Case study: Securing inclusive executive leadership for a historic UK authority

Hays supported a historic UK authority to appoint a new Chief Executive, broadening the talent pool and delivering inclusive leadership aligned to the organisation’s complex governance remit.
 

Overview 

This prominent UK authority plays a unique role in governance, security, and economic development throughout the City of London. Beyond the responsibilities of a typical local authority, it oversees its own policing function, supports education through schools and academies, and champions the UK’s financial services sector internationally. Its breadth of influence demands exceptional leadership and strategic vision. 

When the previous Chief Executive announced their retirement, the organisation not only required a successor who could handle the position’s wide remit, but wanted to diversify their hiring process for a new era of leadership.

Challenge 

The organisation’s brief was complex, requiring an executive search function that could deliver highly-dependable candidates from a diverse talent pool – all the while competing with larger authorities.
 

Key considerations for the role included:

• Wide-ranging responsibilities:
  The new leader needed to manage local authority functions while demonstrating intellectual credibility to oversee policing and lead financial services initiatives. 

• Salary constraints:
  Compensation was below that of larger authorities, making executive appointments from government and financial sectors challenging.

• Diversity ambition:
  The organisation sought a diverse talent pool, but had to overcome its traditional image and historic lack of diversity in senior leadership.

Solution

Our Executive Search team partnered closely with the organisation, combining market insight, a proactive approach to diversity and deep experience in public sector leadership appointments.

Since salary wasn't the main draw, we worked closely with the organisation to best position the role's heritage, history, and organisational scope when attracting senior candidates, while also leveraging our industry expertise and insights to highlight professional growth and future opportunities.

To deliver on diversity, we implemented a proactive sourcing strategy, identifying credible candidates from underrepresented backgrounds. We also ensured a robust process by engaging an experienced former Chief Executive as an independent assessor, adding technical depth and impartiality to candidate evaluation.

Outcome 

Hays delivered a rigorous executive search process that balanced governance complexity with the organisation’s ambition to broaden and diversify its leadership.
 

The search resulted in:

• A diverse longlist drawn from central government, local government and financial services
• The successful appointment of an accomplished Chief Executive from a London borough, meeting the role’s wide‑ranging and nuanced requirements
• A landmark leadership appointment, marking the first time the role had been filled by an individual from an ethnic minority background

As a result, the organisation was able to:

• Secure a highly credible and capable Chief Executive with experience of complex public‑sector environments
• Strengthen leadership representation and inclusivity at the most senior level
• Set a new benchmark for diversity and openness in future executive appointments

Looking to broaden and strengthen your senior leadership?

Speak to our executive search specialists to access diverse executive talent, overcome attraction challenges, and secure leaders equipped to operate within complex governance frameworks.
 

Connect with our experts