Philippa Crowther, who lives in Menston, has taken up the post as the new Chief Executive of York’s oldest charity, the Wilberforce Trust.

Wilberforce, with its forerunners, has been supporting people with sight loss in York since 1843. Philippa takes over from Keith McKee, who has served for the past 14 years, and comes from a background of senior roles in the private health care sector. She has held director roles with Nuffield Health as group operations director, and as operations director of Ultralase laser vision correction. She has also worked as a programmes director with Assura Medical Ltd (now Virgincare Ltd).

She said: “Having come up through the ranks, I have acquired a ‘toolbox’ full of skills, every one of which will be useful in helping the Wilberforce Trust tackle the challenges it faces as a charity in Britain today.”