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RNIB appoints Matt Stringer as permanent Chief Executive

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has appointed Matt Stringer as its permanent Chief Executive.

Matt succeeds Eliot Lyne who has been the charity’s Interim Chief Executive since last April. During his time with RNIB, Eliot has transformed the organisation’s financial position and led the development and implementation of a refreshed brand and strategy, which reconnects RNIB with its core purpose.

Matt joins RNIB on 30 April after thirty years in the retail sector, where he held senior leadership roles for well-known high street brands including Marks and Spencer and Carphone Warehouse. Most recently, he played a leading role in the business transformation of Mothercare.

In the coming months, Matt will build on RNIB’s refreshed brand and strategy to drive forward the charity’s vision of creating a society without barriers for blind and partially sighted people. 

RNIB Chair Eleanor Southwood said:

“We’re thrilled to welcome Matt to the team. He brings a wealth of experience of leadership in complex organisations that are going through change.

“Eliot has been an outstanding leader for RNIB over the past year and I’m confident that Matt is the right person to lead us into our exciting next chapter.

“Every day 250 people begin to lose their sight. Our staff and volunteers are working with blind and partially sighted people to create a world with no barriers, and we are in a stronger position than ever to make this a reality."

Matt said:

I am very excited about what RNIB can achieve over the next few years, and the part I can play in that. With its exciting and ambitious strategy, RNIB is in a powerful position to make real change. Under my leadership, we will seek to be the best we can be for blind and partially sighted people.

“My experience in retail has instilled in me a passion for understanding people’s needs and developing the right products or services to meet them. 

“I’m inspired by what I have seen so far and am excited to be getting out to meet staff and blind and partially sighted people in the coming weeks.”

Notes to editors

All media enquiries to RNIB’s PR team on [email protected] or 020 7391 2223. For urgent enquiries out-of-hours, please call 07968 482812.

Photo: RNIB’s new CEO Matt Stringer

About RNIB

We are the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

Every six minutes, someone in the UK begins to lose their sight. RNIB is taking a stand against exclusion, inequality and isolation to create a world without barriers where people with sight loss can lead full lives. A different world where society values blind and partially sighted people not for the disabilities they’ve overcome, but for the people they are.

RNIB. See differently.

Call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or visit www.rnib.org.uk