Executive team

Executive team

Fight for Sight's executive team oversees the day-to-day running of the charity.

Chief Executive: Keith Valentine

With a track record of over 25 years, Keith has previously been Director of External Affairs at RNIB, Chief Executive of Vision UK 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 experience of living with retinitis pigmentosa, a hereditary condition, causing him to lose his sight at the age of 36.

Director of Development: Ranjeet Kharé BEM

Ranjeet Kharé has 15 years’ experience in the voluntary sector, latterly building renowned strategic relationships with top pharma companies and some of the UK’s largest retailers at RNIB.

Previously, she also spent 15 years in the media sector, which saw her work alongside some of the UK’s largest brands.

Ranjeet was recently awarded the honour of a British Empire Medal for her voluntary contribution during Covid-19, solidifying once again that social good and purpose is ingrained in her life.

Ranjeet has a rare eye condition called Idiopathic polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (IPCV), which she was first diagnosed with age 40. Currently very little research is being undertaken about IPCV and Ranjeet is being treated for her condition with regular appointments at Moorfields.

Director of Impact and External Affairs: Eleanor Southwood MBE

Until March 2023, Ellie was a member of Brent Council’s Cabinet. Over the past eight years she has been accountable for core council services, including waste management and highways: housing, including building the first council homes in decades: local welfare and financial inclusion: and jobs, economy and citizen experience. She is passionate about good quality, equitable local services.

Ellie is a former chair of the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) where she led the organisation through a statutory review by the Charity Commission, financial transformation and significant modernisation. Ellie currently chairs Habinteg Housing Association, which specialises in accessible and adaptable homes across England.

Ellie’s earlier career spans the public private and non-profit sectors and she brings significant public policy, campaigning and organisational change experience. Ellie is blind and lives in North West London where she is a local Councillor for Queens Park, Brent.

Director of Retail: Phil Beaven

With a retail career spanning over twenty-five years, Phil has held a number of senior leadership roles overseeing retail operations for premium and lifestyle brands such as ECCO, Sebago, Merrell and Hush Puppies and has focused on establishing new concepts in the UK for both domestic and international brands.

As Director of Retail, he provides strategic direction and leadership for our retail operations, and is passionate about building high-performing teams to deliver memorable customer experiences. Out of work he enjoys spending time with his family, gardening, travelling and trying to perfect his baking with his daughter. Phil volunteers his time as a group mentor for DofE, supporting students at his children’s school to achieve their ‘Bronze’ award.

Olly Minton: Chief Financial Officer

Olly heads the teams for Finance, HR, ICT and Facilities, as well as acting as company secretary and leading the charity’s safeguarding and risk management. He came from a background in healthcare, most recently as Head of Finance at Great Ormond Street Hospital, but also a spell working with blind and partially sighted patients at Moorfields Eye Hospital. He is also the Treasurer and a Trustee of Doorstep Library, and a School Governor at a primary school in Buckinghamshire. Out of work, he is a bibliophile, a keen hiker, and an enthusiastic wine drinker.

Head of Communications and External Affairs: Sarah Kinder

Sarah Kidner loves to tell stories and believes that they can be a force for good. For over 25 years, she has worked as a writer, editor, and content strategist. Starting out as a technology journalist, Sarah has since worked in the not-for-profit and charity sectors, including for major brands Which? and for the British Heart Foundation.

Outside of work, you'll find her running, slowly, over the South Downs or walking with her husband, daughter and a butch springer spaniel called Squeaky.

Head of Operations and Change: Russ Gill

More information to come.