Guide Dogs’ new Chief Executive to lead mobility for blind and partially sighted people

Richard Leaman, today announced as Guide Dogs’ new Chief Executive, will lead the charity in delivering their ambitious new strategy to help blind and partially-sighted people accomplish their mobility journey.

Guide Dogs leads the visual impairment sector on mobility and access issues, and its new 2010 – 2020 strategy aims to help people from diagnosis with sight loss to getting around independently. Richard begins taking over the reins on 29 March, succeeding Bridget Warr who is leaving the charity after six years to take on new challenges.

The charity will deliver a mobility journey in collaboration with other charities, central and local government, the NHS, and other healthcare professionals. It will continue to deliver the guide dog service and other mobility services, as well as campaigning to ensure national and local government, and local authorities deliver improved services for visually impaired people.

Richard has previously worked in the Royal Navy, where leadership, sound financial management, a focus on quality, and consulting and working with different groups of people, were all vital. He leaves as a Rear Admiral, most recently working as Deputy Chief of Staff in a NATO strategic headquarters in America. He was awarded an OBE in 1994 for disaster relief services after Hurricane Andrew and was recently appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath for his leadership whilst developing and implementing NATO's new maritime strategy.