Hello, we are in the process of planning the replacement for our current Chair of Trustees, who is looking to step down in the next 12 months. This Chair has been with the charity since it was founded, and so this is the first time we are changing Chair. 

We would like to hear any wisdom that can be shared about recruiting a new Chair externally versus internally. What the process for voting on the Chair internally was (our governing doc doesn't specify this).

Also, particularly, if anyone has any experience of recruiting a general trustee, but stipulating in the advertisement that they could be a 'future Chair' - i.e. that we are looking for a new chair soon and so welcome applications from someone who would be interested in taking on that role. This wouldn't guarantee that they would be the Chair, but we just want to encourage those with that ambition and relevant experience to join so that they can be duly considered in an internal process once they join. Has this worked well for other in the past? Are there any learnings that can be shared about how to do this successfully (if it is advisable at all)?

Thank you for any thoughts/resources that can be shared.