Former director of global fundraising for Sightsavers, Tobin Aldrich, has announced that he has left the charity to set up a consultancy business.

He revealed his move in a blog post earlier this month.

“Here’s a complete bombshell... I’m going to be a fundraising consultant,” he said.

Aldrich was at Sightsavers for just a year but has worked in the sector for over 20 years. He previously worked for WWF-UK as director of communications and fundraising and held director of fundraising roles at the National Deaf Children’s Society, Centrepoint and Concern Worldwide. He has been an occasional blogger for Civil Society News.

His departure from Sightsavers was announced at the charity on 1 December.

“I've set up a new consultancy, Aldrich Fundraising, which works with charities of all sizes to develop and implement effective fundraising strategies,” he told Civil Society News. He already has "around half a dozen clients".

According to Aldrich, his move was six months in the making.

In addition to starting his own consultancy business, he has joined a not-for-profit consultancy, Tarnside Consulting, as an associate.

A spokeswoman for Sightsavers told Civil Society News: "At the moment the plan is not to replace him but the head of individual giving and the head of major gifts will be overseeing the department."