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RNIB announces senior appointments

Posted Wednesday, 3 August 2022 Categories: Press release

External and internal appointments will support the delivery of the charity’s ambitious new strategy

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has further strengthened its leadership team by making senior appointments across communications, innovation and transformation, income generation, and people and HR.

The appointments include two external hires and come at a pivotal time for the charity as it launches its new strategy and increases its focus on behaviour change and tackling the root causes of inequality for blind and partially sighted people.

The external appointments are:

  • Kerry Eldridge joins as Chief People Officer in October where she will focus on developing high-performing teams, while nurturing talent from within the organisation and attracting external talent. Kerry is currently the Executive Director of People and Culture at Cornwall Care, the largest charity-based adult social care provider in Cornwall.
  • Charlotte Jackson joins as Director of Communications in October and will head up RNIB’s new integrated communications function to amplify the charity’s ‘voice’ on key societal issues. Charlotte joins RNIB from Parkinson’s UK, where she is currently Associate Director of Engagement and Communications.

RNIB CEO Matt Stringer said: “I’m delighted to welcome Kerry and Charlotte to RNIB at a pivotal moment for our charity, as we look to go further than ever before in tackling the root causes of exclusion and injustice for blind and partially sighted people. They will bring sector-leading experience and expertise to our leadership team as we accelerate our efforts to break down barriers to create an equitable society for people affected by sight loss.”

The charity has also made three internal promotions in its leadership team:

  • Jim Sanders has been appointed as Director of Innovation and Transformation,
  • Debbie Miller has been appointed as Director of Customer Experience and Engagement
  • Emma Williams has been appointed as Director of Fundraising Strategy and Transformation.

Additional biographical information and quotes for external appointments

Kerry Eldridge

Kerry is currently the Executive Director of People and Culture at ‘Cornwall Care’ the largest charity-based Adult Social care provider in Cornwall. She is responsible for leading the People and Culture team and clinical operational teams to deliver high-quality, person-centred care to the people they support and their families.

Kerry has held several senior HR director roles in the private, charity and public sectors. She has extensive experience working in complex, big organisations, including several NHS trusts, such as Royal Cornwall Hospitals and East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trusts.

As a trustee at local society iSightCornwall, Kerry is passionate about promoting eye health and reducing health inequalities, especially for blind and partially sighted people.

Kerry said: “I’m delighted to be joining RNIB as Chief People Officer to support societal change and equality for blind and partially sighted people. I’m excited to be supporting colleagues and leading our talented teams to help deliver RNIB’s strategy, ongoing transformational plans, pandemic recovery and innovative workforce solutions for colleagues, volunteers and fundraisers, ensuring RNIB promotes talented people, creates opportunities and is a great place to work.”

Charlotte Jackson

Charlotte is currently Associate Director of Engagement and Communications at Parkinson’s UK. She leads a team of innovative brand, marketing, content, design, supporter engagement and PR colleagues who deliver strong strategic results and keep audience insight at the heart of decision making.

Charlotte has held several roles at Parkinson’s UK, including Editorial Manager and Head of Content and Creative before she was appointed to the Associate Director role.

Charlotte said: “I’m thrilled to be joining RNIB at such an exciting time. The charity has an ambitious strategy, a fantastic team who are already making a big difference to the lives of people affected by sight loss, and plenty of bold initiatives and campaigns to build on. There’s still lots to do and I’m looking forward to helping to ensure that we’re reaching more people than ever before, engaging our staff, and mobilising our supporters and wider society to secure the positive changes we want to see.”

Notes to editors

All media enquiries to the RNIB press office on [email protected] or call 0207 391 2223. For urgent enquiries out-of-hours, please call 07968 482812.

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.