Case study 1: Chief Executive, 3SC
Background: 3SC was established in 2009 as a not-for-profit partnership to bring together other civil society organisations throughout the UK to bid for and deliver large public service contracts. 3SC enables voluntary and social enterprise organisations, whatever their size, to participate collaboratively in the new public service commissioning environment; contracts are delivered by a range of organisations with local reach who have an understanding and empathy with those using services. These organisations are established service providers in criminal justice, education and training, health and social care, social housing and welfare to work.
Our challenge was to find a business builder who could launch a new organisation, build and motivate a team and recruit service delivery charities to join. In addition, we needed someone who had a good address book of government contacts and knew their way around the commissioning and bid process. Finally, and hardest to find: the CEO had to be a convincing voice and persuade the government and commissioners of services of the unique benefits that civil society organisations offer in their delivery of public services over government departments or PLC’s. We were also working with an organisation without a well-known brand and with an idea – the management of public services, delivery by charities - that was still new to many.
Implementing the search: Working closely with a board composed of 3SC’s initial investor partners, Prospectus targeted and approached leaders in private-sector service organisations who worked closely with government ministries, such as the Work and Pensions, Justice and Health. In addition, we ran an online and print media ad campaign. Our search resulted in a short list with a mix of commercial leaders from quangos, charities and PLCs who were experienced in winning multi-million pound government contracts and building and had the entrepreneurial spirit to build and run a new organisation.
The Appointment: 3SC recruited Michael O’Toole as their chief executive in February 2010. Michael had the sales and marketing experience needed to build the business, from his time with a leading private sector integrated services group, as well as the partnership and public service experience, from his work as a business development lead in a charity. It was recognised that Michael’s experience and connections would equip him well to be an excellent conduit to promote the benefits of a collaborative approach to public service delivery, and also to increase the profile of 3SC in its development.
"The Senior Consultant assigned to us by Prospectus and indeed the broader team 'hit the ground running' and really understood what was needed. As work progressed they both challenged us in our thinking and adapted their search in the light of the realities of the market but always remained focused on delivering the right candidate. They were highly responsive throughout. I’d certainly work with them again and indeed subsequent appointments for 3SC have ensued" - Ernie Messer, Interim HR Director, 3SC
Prospectus has since gone on to work on other key remits for 3SC to help them build a successful core team; click here to see the creative campaign we ran for this recruitment.
Case study 2: Executive Director, Stelios Philanthropic Foundation
Background: The three Es - Education, Entrepreneurship and the Environment - serve as pillars for the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation's activities in Cyprus, Greece, the UK and Monaco. Founded by Sir Stelios Haj-Iannou, the entrepreneur behind easyJet and other easyGroup businesses, the foundation invests in future entrepreneurs and business leaders. It funds scholarships at the London School of Economics and Cass Business School and provides a number of cash awards promoting entrepreneurship including the Stelios Award for Young Entrepreneur in Greece, Stelios’ Award for Business Cooperation in Cyprus and Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year - in partnership with Leonard Cheshire Disability - in the UK. It also supports the WWF and CYMEPA – the marine protection organisation in Cyprus. Stelios had been running his philanthropic activities directly, but as it grew, he felt it warranted a full-time director to structure programmes, solidify partnerships and further expand its reach.
Our challenge was to find a highly entrepreneurial director who could create an identity for the foundation, communicate to stakeholders, sustain and develop new partnerships and manage the many award programmes and scholarships. We needed someone with a strong communications and management background, good language skills, experience in philanthropy - and the candidate needed to be based in, or willing to move to, Monaco.
Implementing the search: Working closely with Stelios, Prospectus developed a search strategy to identify candidates with solid communications skills, philanthropy experience and entrepreneurial empathy. We especially targeted the extensive English-speaking population in the south of France and Monaco, an area with many international, multilingual executives.
Stelios himself recorded a radio campaign broadcast on Riviera Radio, the radio station serving Anglophones in southern France. The radio campaign, combined with a print campaign created by Prospectus’ recruitment advertising team, provided the backbone to our search, which also included outreach to private foundation leaders with business backgrounds.
Six candidates were long listed and two were presented to Stelios and his board of directors. Both had excellent academic and international management backgrounds. One had extensive experience with family foundations and international aid while the other had a rich communications background and had also shown entrepreneurial flair in launching her own foundation for people with disabilities.
The Appointment: Marie-Louise Bang was appointed the first executive director of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation. Based in Monaco, Marie-Louise brings her management skills, initiative, energy and creativity to delivering the foundation’s work in Greece, Cyprus, the UK and Monaco.
I was pleased at how smoothly and thoroughly Prospectus handled the task of finding the right person to lead my Foundation – their insight into the type of person needed for this job were invaluable and, a year down the road, I am delighted by what Marie-Louise and the team have achieved”.
Click here to see the creative campaign we ran for this recruitment.
Case study 3: Chair, Unicorn Theatre
Background: Based at London’s South Bank, the Unicorn is a leading professional theatre for young audiences, with an international reputation for artistic excellence. Appointing a new Chair was a crucial step in the Unicorn’s development, as it grew to become the national theatre for children in the UK.
Our team were briefed to find candidates with a real passion for the theatre and the role art can play in young people’s lives. Equally importantly, the Theatre needed a Chair who could act as an ambassador for their work, and provide genuinely inclusive leadership to the Board.
Implementing the search: Working closely with our client, our consultants developed a search strategy focusing on potential candidates in the arts, education and commercial sectors. Our team’s research, combined with our access to extensive networks, allowed us to approach a large number of relevant individuals. Simultaneously, our Advertising team created a strategic, high-impact candidate acquisition campaign in the Sunday Times, Financial Times and Guardian.
Our consultants drew up a longlist of six candidates from these sources, of which two were presented to the client. One candidate had extensive experience in the arts and foundation sector, with a personal interest in theatre, and the other had previously been the chair of a well-known arts organisation.
Throughout the recruitment process, our consultants maintained constant contact with the client and all candidates, responding quickly and effectively to the needs of both.
The Appointment: The recruitment process culminated in the appointment of Joanna Kennedy. Joanna stood out because of her proven leadership abilities, her passion for theatre and young people, and her extensive governance experience.
"Prospectus engaged in this task with total commitment and verve. I thought the research into our ethos, organisation and needs was thorough. I felt confident that every approach was handled sensitively, intelligently and appropriately. It was as though Prospectus was an elegant, professional and suitably demanding extension of our own company" – Tony Graham, Chief Executive, Unicorn Theatre
Click here to see the creative campaign we ran for this recruitment.
