Headhunting a Non-Executive Director for a leading UK not-for-profit energy organisation – Energy Headhunters

Executive Search: Appointing a Non-Executive Director to Guide Growth Transformation in the Not-for-Profit Energy Sector

Looking to drive strategic transformation in a not-for-profit or regulated sector? Here’s how we helped a UK-based energy supplier appoint a Non-Executive Director (NED) with the expertise to support a bold 10-year growth strategy — despite a highly competitive and narrow talent pool.

✅ Who This Is For

• Not-for-profit or mission-driven organisations seeking experienced strategic oversight

• Leadership teams aiming to scale after a plateau in performance or impact

• Boards looking for NEDs with cross-sector insight and transformation experience

🚧 The Challenge: Appointing a Commercially Minded NED for a Not-for-Profit Energy Supplier

Client context:
A well-established not-for-profit energy supplier had reached a plateau in growth after a successful initial phase. The leadership team recognised the need for external guidance as they prepared for a new 10-year strategic plan.

Primary brief:

• Appoint a Non-Executive Director with proven experience of overseeing growth and transformation

• Bring in an external perspective that could challenge and support the existing executive team

• Ideally, source talent with experience in the energy, telecoms, or technology sectors

• Secure a candidate who understood the nuances of operating within a not-for-profit context

Key challenge:
The not-for-profit model significantly narrowed the candidate pool. Many high-calibre commercial NEDs were typically more drawn to equity-backed opportunities or private sector organisations.

🎯 Our Executive Search Approach: Making the Opportunity Count

To overcome the challenge of a constrained candidate market, we designed an executive search strategy that highlighted the mission, impact, and strategic influence of the role — ensuring it would attract the right calibre of Non-Executive Directors.

1. Positioning the Role for Maximum Appeal

We created:

• A compelling candidate briefing pack, articulating the organisation’s purpose, market relevance, and future vision

• A client video overview, offering personal insight from the CEO and Chair to emotionally engage prospective candidates

• Messaging that clearly communicated the scale and complexity of the transformation challenge

2. Broadening the Talent Pool Strategically

While initially focusing on energy-sector leaders, we expanded the search to include:

• Telecoms and tech executives with transferable leadership and operational expertise

• Commercial NEDs with a track record of supporting executive teams through growth cycles

• Individuals seeking to add a purpose-driven, not-for-profit role to their portfolio

3. Rigorous Shortlisting and Cultural Fit Assessment

• We applied a sector-agnostic but outcome-specific lens, focusing on candidates with experience delivering growth in constrained or regulated environments

• Conducted in-depth interviews and cultural fit assessments to ensure alignment with the board and executive team

• Presented a diverse shortlist that balanced industry insight, governance capability, and transformation track record

🏆 Outcome: Appointing a Proven Growth Leader to Guide the Next Chapter

Our client appointed an experienced NED with a strong background in both the energy and telecoms sectors, who had previously guided two organisations through major growth transitions.

Why they were the right fit:

• Brought deep sector knowledge and boardroom maturity

• Had demonstrable experience navigating complex organisational growth

• Was actively seeking to expand their portfolio with a purpose-led opportunity

• Understood the financial and operational constraints of the not-for-profit model

“We were thrilled with the calibre of the shortlist. The appointed candidate brings not only strategic insight but also a clear commitment to our mission and long-term growth goals.” — Client feedback

📌 What You Should Consider When Hiring a Non-Executive Director for a Not-for-Profit

• Board experience alone isn’t enough — look for transformation capability and sector relevance

• Purpose and mission can be a major attractor for commercial candidates seeking portfolio diversity

• Narrative and positioning matter — especially when competing for top-tier talent in niche markets

📞 Looking to Appoint a Non-Executive Director to Drive Strategic Change?

We specialise in executive and board-level appointments that require a careful balance of governance, transformation experience, and sector alignment.

👉 Contact us on 020 7160 6996 for a confidential discussion about how we can help you recruit impactful Non-Executive Directors or senior leaders for your organisation.

Let’s find the right leadership to unlock your next phase of growth.