From Leader to CEO: What Changes When You Step Into the Top Role
For many senior leaders, the ambition to become a Chief Executive feels like a natural progression. You’ve led complex functions. You’ve sat on boards. You understand governance, strategy, and risk. And yet, the move from senior leader to CEO is not a promotion in the conventional sense. It is a shift in identity, accountability, and visibility and one that is often […]
Writing a Board CV: From Career History to Governance Narrative
For many senior leaders, the board CV is an unfamiliar discipline. It looks similar to an executive CV but it is judged very differently. Chairs and nomination committees are not assessing how you managed; they are assessing how you govern. They are not hiring delivery; they are hiring judgement, perspective, and stewardship. A strong board […]
Common recruitment biases and why Boards should care
Bias is not a moral failing. It’s a human one. Every decision-maker carries a mix of conscious values and unconscious shortcuts. The challenge is that the two don’t always align. In recruitment, particularly at senior and board level those shortcuts can quietly shape outcomes in ways that undermine both fairness and effectiveness. Bias doesn’t usually […]
Board CV Checklist & Template
Board CV Checklist Before you submit, ask yourself: Board Proposition Does the opening clearly state why I belong in the boardroom? Have I articulated my governance value, not just my seniority? Would a Chair understand what I add to board discussions within 30 seconds? Governance Lens Is my experience framed around oversight, risk, […]
Is the Older Workforce the New Marginalised Group?
The conversation around diversity and inclusion is continually evolving. Organisations increasingly understand the value of representation, the importance of lived experience in leadership and the role of inclusion in shaping trust and better outcomes. Yet one dimension remains comparatively under-examined: age. As the UK population grows older and government policy encourages people to extend […]
LGBTQ career barrier
85% of LGBTQ+ professionals have faced at least one significant career barrier due to their identity. Common challenges include: Lack of role models: 70% cited a lack of LGBTQ+ representation in leadership. Hostile or uncomfortable workplaces: Half experienced environments where being out wasn’t safe or supported. Limited HR support: 42% felt their employer didn’t […]
Insights from the North East Anti-Racism Coalition (NEARC) research.
How Castle Peak Group Aims to Break Down Barriers for Minority Candidates In the aftermath of the 2024 riots, conversations about race, inequality, and belonging in the UK’s North East region took on a new urgency. The creation of the North East Anti-Racism Coalition (NEARC) was one such response — a cross-sector effort to understand […]
UK North Yorkshire Coast and Moors testimonial
In the absence of our Chair, I led the recruitment process on behalf of Age UK North Yorkshire Coast and Moors for a new Chief Executive. As a result, we commissioned James Carss of the Castle Peak Group to undertake the Search. Given the pivotal importance of finding a first-class CEO, our Board had shortlisted […]
Understanding and Addressing Barriers to Board Diversity in Housing Associations
Housing doesn’t always like patting itself on the back, but when you make comparisons to other sectors, it actually takes D&I more seriously than most.
Writing a good cover letter
Tips for writing a good cover letter for a trustee or NED (or any!) role Your CV does not tell your story, your cover letter or statement does. This is true of all job roles, but especially so for non-executive director or trustee positions where your passion and personal connection to a sector, an organisation […]