Fight for Sight appoints new Chief Executive Keith Valentine

Effective 4th January 2022, Keith Valentine will lead Fight for Sight as Chief Executive, working with a committed team of Fight for Sight employees, scientists, and supporters to achieve our ambition to stop sight loss by funding pioneering research.

Keith brings with him over 25 years of experience, much of it in the sight-loss sector. He has previously been Director of External Affairs at RNIB, Chief Executive of Vision UK, is  a Trustee of the Turner Contemporary Gallery, and has been a Trustee of Retina UK and Action for Blind People. Keith is a strategic leader and a known force within government and industry when it comes to highlighting key issues affecting people with eye conditions.

Keith’s passion and drive comes, not least, from his personal experience of living with retinitis pigmentosa, a hereditary condition, causing him to lose his sight at the age of 36.

As Chief Executive at Fight for Sight, Keith Valentine will lead the team to develop and execute a sustainable strategy, building on the impact the charity achieves through its funding of life-changing research.  

There is no time to lose.  Two million people in the UK are currently affected by sight loss, a number that’s set to double by 2050. Science can find prevention and cures, and Fight for Sight is the leading UK charity 100% dedicated to funding pioneering eye research that can help deliver the science, investing in projects at leading universities and hospitals across the country. 

Louisa Vincent, Chair of Trustees at Fight for Sight, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome Keith Valentine as our new Chief Executive. Keith’s career, accomplishments and experience clearly demonstrate how committed he is to make a real difference for people with sight loss. He will drive the next exciting phase of our development, with so much promising science bringing potential new treatments for people with sight loss. He will champion our values, increase the impact of our research and heighten awareness for more funding in research”.

Keith Valentine said: “I’m hugely excited to be joining Fight for Sight to accelerate the development of new treatments and ultimately potential cures for millions of people affected by sight loss. I know first-hand just how much sight loss can affect generations of people, yet funding for sight loss remains so low on the agenda. This needs to change. Now more than ever, people with sight loss and their families need new hope for the future. I look forward to getting to know and working with our incredible supporters, scientists and the wider community to meet that challenge.”