CEO
The Role:
Sight ResearchUK
The Client:
Sight Research UK is a Charity dedicated to eradicating sight loss and blindness. By uniting a diverse community of supporters, researchers, patients, and healthcare professionals, they’re accelerating the translation of scientific discoveries into life-changing treatments.
Founded in Bristol in 1986, the Charity initially focused on corneal eye conditions, establishing the UK's first Corneal Transplant Service. Over the years, the charity has invested nearly £18 million in research, driving significant advancements in our understanding of eye health and disease.
Today, Sight Research UK supports leading ophthalmology centres across the UK, addressing a wide range of eye conditions affecting both children and adults. The Charity's mission remains steadfast - to fund research that delivers innovative solutions for patients, whether it's through improved diagnosis, prevention, or treatment.
The primary challenge of the search was identifying candidates with strong commercial acumen and extensive fundraising experience, specifically in individual giving, legacies, and major gifts. The ideal candidate would have a proven track record of leading a small team, either as a Chief Executive or in a senior leadership role. Additionally, the CEO needed to be deeply passionate about the Charity's mission.
To ensure confidentiality, a Non-Disclosure Agreement was implemented. We conducted a targeted headhunting and advertising campaign to identify potential candidates. Following a rigorous selection and interview process, a shortlist of qualified candidates was presented to the client. This shortlist included a detailed analysis of each candidate's strengths, weaknesses, and potential impact on the organisation.
Sight Research UK ultimately selected Lucy Culkin, one of our recommended candidates, as their new CEO.
Ms Culkin is an experienced CEO with a proven track record in business development, stakeholder management and team leadership. Her expertise in developing and implementing successful fundraising strategies is particularly relevant to Sight Research UK, as securing substantial funding from diverse sources is critical to the Charity's mission. Ms Culkin’s strong networking and relationship-building skills will help expand the organisation's impact. Furthermore, her proficiency in bid and grant writing is invaluable as Sight Research UK embarks on its next phase of development.
They were seeking a Chief Executive Officer to lead the organisation through the next phase of development. We worked with Sight Research previously, crafting a bespoke search campaign to find Trustees for their Board in 2023. Based on the success of that process, they approached us to oversee the search for a new CEO.
Gemma Wilks, Head of Moon's Management, Engineering and Technical Practice, led the search campaign. Leveraging her prior experience with the organisation, Gemma engaged in in-depth discussions with the Board and leadership team to fully understand the specific requirements and nuances of the CEO role.
Carol Mayo, Chair of the Board of Trustees at Sight Research UK, commented:
“Gemma provided us with an outstanding shortlist of candidates. The final two were very different individuals, but both perfectly fulfilled our brief. It was a really tough decision to decide between them, we appreciate the work of Moon to put us in such a strong position.”
Gemma Wilks commented:
"We enjoyed collaborating with Sight Research UK once again. A key component of this campaign was identifying candidates with the ability to secure funding from diverse sources. We identified several impressive individuals who possess the skills and experience to help the Charity grow. The placed candidate, Lucy Culkin is a proven leader who we’re sure will make a difference during their next phase of development."
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