Case Study: Recruitment for CEO of a significant Irish Charity  

The Assignment 

Osborne Executive Search partnered with a prominent Irish charity, dedicated to supporting victims of sexual abuse and violence, to appoint a visionary CEO to drive its mission forward. Following the departure of a long-serving CEO, the charity faced challenges including leadership transition, evolving service demands, policy shifts, and managing issues related to child abuse and online violence. Key to the role was developing strong, diversified funding strategies, with the charity’s operations primarily supported by the Department of Justice, HSE, grants, and fundraising coupled with demonstrated experience in non-profit leadership, financial acumen and an understanding of Ireland’s unique social sector landscape 

Our Process 

To ensure a successful and smooth recruitment process, an in-depth meeting was held with the client to understand the role, vision, mission, and the specific skills and attributes required to identify the ideal CEO. We crafted a detailed profile and competency matrix based on this information, guiding our search and selection criteria focusing on candidates with: 

• Leadership experience in the not-for-profit or charity sector 

• Strategic and operational expertise with a strong focus on mission-driven organizations 

• A network within the Irish community, including government and media relations 

• High emotional intelligence and resilience to navigate challenges and inspire staff 

 Our comprehensive sourcing strategy included a mix of proactive searches including   

• Reaching out to Osborne Executives extensive database CV libraries, LinkedIn, and social media platforms engaging with a matrix of senior executives, industry bodies, and charity sector groups. 

• Leveraged our professional networks, seeking referrals and recommendations for suitable candidates, targeting candidates with relevant experience in Irish non-profits, particularly in health, social care, and education sectors  

• Placing strategic advertisements in Irish not-for-profit, charity, and executive recruitment publications to attract wider interest. 

• Advertising over major Irish and international job boards and social media  

The recruitment process focused on assessing candidates’ alignment with the charity’s mission and their capacity to achieve sustainable impact. Key steps included: 

• Candidates were screened by Osborne Executive based on their experience and track record in strategic leadership, sectoral and resource management in addition to evaluation of their decision-making approach, values alignment, and ability to inspire teams. 

• A longlist of suitable candidates was presented to the appointed panel for shortlisting with successful candidates invited to first round competency-based interviews.  

• Three candidates were selected for final round interview and were asked to present a strategy proposal for the charity’s future, enabling the Panel to assess strategic vision, innovative thinking, and practical application. 

 The Result
After a rigorous evaluation process, the panel selected a candidate with significant experience in the Irish non-profit sector, including several years in executive leadership roles. The successful candidate demonstrated adaptability and a strategic approach that was essential to navigate future challenges and foster growth in addition to being aligned deeply with the charity’s values ensuring that strategic decisions always reflected the organisation’s mission. The client and the new CEO were both extremely satisfied with the outcome. The entire recruitment process was completed within a 10-week period, from the initial client meeting to the acceptance of the offer.  

This case study exemplifies our commitment to understanding client needs, executing targeted recruitment strategies, and delivering successful outcomes even in the most challenging circumstances.