In 2019 our team were appointed to partner with Plan International to appoint Tanya Barron’s successor as Chief Executive, UK. Midway through their strategic plan, the organisation focusses on equality for girls; empowering young people into successful adulthood; building resilience in communities; improving diverse and effective partnerships and organisational excellence. The organisation is a key part of the Plan International Structure, with an income of £66.7m and a truly global mandate – throughout 2017/2018 their work reached over 8 million individuals.

We were briefed to find a values-driven leader who could lead the next phase of the organisation’s development and maximise their impact for children and young people internationally. We led an international search, in which we focussed on identifying individuals with significant experience shaping organisational vision and strategy within complex settings. Plan International UK were also keen to consider candidates from outside the UK voluntary sector and as such we conducted a wide-ranging search in which we contacted leaders from the non-profit, public and private sectors.

Having considered over 175 people, we presented a longlist of 23 candidates; 65% of whom were women. A longlist of 16 was decided upon and we interviewed these individuals before Plan International UK met with 4 candidates at the panel interview stage. Rose Caldwell was the appointed candidate, and brought more than a decade’s experience in the private sector experience alongside knowledge of the national and international not-for-profit space. Rose will take up this role in September 2019.