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How to recruit an interim CEO?

Debbie Holden Charity Posted 8 months ago

Hello, I'm a Trustee at a charity and we need to recruit an interim CEO. Can anyone suggest the best way forward with this?

We don't have a lot of money to spend on recruitment so any suggestions gratefully received.

Thanks

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Emma Patmore Staff PANEL

Associate Consultant Trustee Recruitment & Development at Bruce Tait Associates 8 months ago

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Hi Debbie,

Try asking Russam, the forefathers of interim recruitment (I used to head up the Charity & NfP division there, so speaking from direct experience!)

See also other charity recruiters - there are quite a few, so ask for recommendations from similar orgs to yours.

Also check out various networking groups on LinkedIn, and similarly, ask for recommendations of firms and individual interim managers.

In any instance be clear about your budget and how that particular firm operates, and don't be put off by someone who's 'only' available x3 days per week, for example - interims are 'over-qualified' for the role and come in with all the CEO experience. Ask that the interim quotes their overall daily rate, as in, the hourly/day cost with expenses built in - that way there are no 'surprises' (and you can ask that invoices submitted outline each expense incurred (so hourly/day rate, travel, misc. expenses for things like stationary, travel to-from meetings, etc).

Ask that your invoice shows the agency 'mark-up', as in, what they're charging for making the intro/their daily, or weekly fee, and for doing all the 'admin'.

For example: the interim may charge £400 per day, the interim provider's bill may show £550 - and so you know how much the provider is charging for the intro.

Hope all this makes sense - and a good interim provider will be only too happy to talk you through it.

Good luck! Interims can be excellent at helping to steady the ship, and don't get involved with the 'politics'. Do be sure that your staff are aware - the word "consultant" often strikes fear into the heart and some may 'translate' this into they;re there to do a review before making massive (unwanted) change and redundancy.

Best wishes,

Emma

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Emma Ferry Staff PANEL

HR Consultant at Bluestone HR Ltd 8 months ago

Hi Debbie,

I have a HR Consultancy and we specialise in supporting small charities. We do offer recruitment but there is a cost attached so this may be too expensive for you - Recruitment Assistance - Bluestone HR. Packages start at £899+VAT with a 20% charity discount that can be applied to this.

Otherwise I would suggest using Charity Jobs which is fairly cost effective for the reach that it gets and tends to find good applicants. Indeed is good if you are very budget strapped as a free option but bear in mind you do tend to have to wade through a lot of applications when using it though! Otherwise perhaps try using your network on Linkedin and asking others from similar organisations to share it, although this is of course likely to limit your reach somewhat. Good luck with it.

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Mike Preston Staff PANEL

Between Roles at Between Roles 8 months ago

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i would suggest approaching a consultant who maybe has experience of being a CEO, the other option is could existing members of the senior management team to take it on by offering them enhanced pay for additional responsibilities

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Jonathan Dearth Staff PANEL

Director at The Right Ethos 8 months ago

Hi,

This video explains how the Directory of Freelancers works: https://player.hourone.ai/a8a6f4b5f32149c391558d1a133e7701

Here is the full directory with more freelancers: https://therightethos.co.uk/freelancers/

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Jonathan Dearth Staff PANEL

Director at The Right Ethos 8 months ago

Hello,

At The Right Ethos we have a free service for charities - Directory of Freelancers.

The senior levels sub-Directory should help you find candidates: https://therightethos.co.uk/director-level/

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Marcus Ward Staff PANEL

Partner at Peach Consultancy 8 months ago

Hi Debbie

You can post a request on Consultants for Good website for FREE.

The organisation is a membership organisation for charity advisors and consultants of all types, including interim CEO specialists, and with 150+ consultant members you should get responses.

Full disclosure, i am voluntary Chair of Consultants for Good.

Best wishes, Marcus

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