Breaking Barriers

About

Breaking Barriers is a charity supporting refugees into meaningful employment, education and training, working with both individuals and employers to create more inclusive pathways into work. At the time of this recruitment, the organisation was operating in a period of strategic transition, creating the need for experienced interim leadership able to provide stability, maintain momentum and support the team through change.

The Brief

Prospectus was engaged on a retained basis to recruit an Interim Chief Executive Officer on a 6-month contract. The Board was seeking a senior interim leader with proven CEO-level experience, strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to lead confidently through a transitional period while keeping organisational priorities on track. With a tight timetable and a need for someone able to make an immediate impact, this was a brief requiring both pace and careful judgement.

Our Approach

We delivered a focused search, targeting interim leaders known to us and widening the search to target those interim leaders with a values alignment with Breaking Barriers. Particular emphasis was placed on change-management capability and the ability to operate effectively in a mission-led environment. The campaign generated 96 applications, from which eight candidates were presented to the client, with four progressing to interview stage, as well as meetings with the senior staff team.

The Outcome

The successful appointee, Justin Irwin, brought extensive interim chief executive experience from across the charity sector, including roles requiring strategic leadership, operational oversight, financial stewardship and organisational change. The requirement took just three weeks to complete, reflecting a rapid turnaround on a senior interim brief. The appointment gave Breaking Barriers experienced executive leadership at a pivotal moment, helping to ensure continuity and stability ahead of its next phase.

If you would like support in sourcing exceptional talent into a leadership role in your organisation, find out more about our Executive Search Service or Charity Board Recruitment Service.