Board
Modern society demands effective, transparent governance and appropriately diverse, representative Boards of Directors for its most important organisations.
Any search for a Non-Executive needs to take into account a number of key issues in order to be successful - relevant experience, cultural fit, time commitment and advocacy. Our Board Practice is one of the most diverse and research-oriented in the market.
Through advising on a very wide array of Chair and NED appointments across all of our areas of expertise we have developed a modern forward-thinking approach in support of building excellent boards. We seek to identify both well-known as well as high potential, yet more unknown, candidates. We ensure that we deliver a range of candidates from across the private, public and non-profit sectors.
How We Think
Where We Can Help
Chairs of Board
As the sectors in which we operate continue to internationalise and marketise the implications of these pressures on the role of a Chair are very real and present. Yet at the same time this is an era when a Chair can help to shape the most inspiring and ambitious of agendas for the organisation.
The role of Chair often requires an individual of immense experience and capacity in regards to governance, leading and running major organisations, complex international operations, working in partnership, diplomacy, people-management sensitivities, financial acuity, international policy and relations, and acting as an ambassador and advocate for the organisation.
Our work spans the public, private and non-profit sectors and as such we are able to take an extremely broad view of the environments from which potential candidates might emanate.
Finance and Audit
Sitting on the main board and/or Chairing the Audit, Finance, Remuneration or Risk Committees, we have supported clients across the public, private and non-profit sectors to appoint candidates with financial services, audit and investment experience.
Overseeing the financial reporting process, selecting the independent auditor, and receiving audit results it is vital that the appointed candidates are responsible with great integrity - our thorough assessment methods, triangulation and due diligence are able to ensure that shortlisted candidates have the interest and motivation to support our clients.
Specialist Portfolios
Working closely with the Partners of our Advisory business, we can work with Boards to identify specific skills gaps and we have supported clients to identify candidates with diverse backgrounds.
Specific portfolios have included Marketing and Branding, Human Resources, Legal, Clinical, Digital, Governance, Internationalisation, Investment, Change Management, Communications, Fundraising and Theology.
General
Of increasing importance to our clients, we are able to analyse and advise with regard to diversity across Non-Executive Boards and Councils, as well as offering succession planning services. We work with clients across all nine of our areas of expertise to identify candidates with the requisite skills, experience and passion to sit on the Board of our client organisations.
We are extremely successful in supporting clients appoint across sectors (53% of appointments) and diversely (40% female appointments).
Who To Talk To
Shivani Smith
Partner & Head, Social Impact and Environment, UK
EMEA
Shivani Smith
Partner & Head, Social Impact and Environment, UK
Shivani is a Partner & Head of UK Social Impact and Environment.
She has experience of senior charity roles including Director and Chief Executive positions for organisations across the UK. Previously she has worked with non-profits on projects covering qualitative research, brand, fundraising, leadership development and CSR. Her experience of the non-profit sector also includes voluntary roles within charities as a Chair and as a trustee.
Shivani has an MA Public Policy and Management, University of York and a BSc Sociology (Hons), London School of Economics and Political Science.
Harriet Howlett
Senior Consultant & Head, Board Practice, UK
EMEA
Harriet Howlett
Senior Consultant & Head, Board Practice, UK
Harriet Howlett is a Senior Consultant & Head UK Board Practice, working on Chair and governance level appointments across all of Perrett Laver's sectors including Higher Education, Charities, Arts and Culture, and Sports.
Harriet also leads the firm's Governance Apprenticeship Programme which is a partnership initiative aimed at developing a pipeline of future governing body members from diverse backgrounds.
Harriet holds a Bachelor's degree in History from the University of St Andrews, and an MA in History from University College London.
t: +44 (0) 20 7340 6274