Board & Executive · Chair
Chair search for FTSE, PE-backed and private company boards.
The most consequential board appointment. Retained, senior-partner-led, Code-aligned.
What the role is
A short definition.
A Chair leads the board. In the UK Corporate Governance Code sense, the Chair is responsible for the effectiveness of the board, for setting agenda and pace, and for ensuring the executive team is challenged constructively. Beyond the Code, the Chair is the principal external face of the board — to shareholders, regulators, media and, in PE-backed businesses, to the sponsor. It is the single most consequential board appointment.
Core responsibilities
What we assess candidates against.
- Board effectiveness, agenda-setting and committee oversight
- Working relationship with the CEO — supportive but independent
- Independence under the UK Corporate Governance Code, tested at appointment and refreshed annually
- Shareholder, regulator and (in listed environments) analyst engagement
- In PE-backed businesses: sponsor relationship management and, at exit, buyer/IPO investor management
- Succession planning for both the executive team and the board itself
When to run this search
Typical triggers.
On a scheduled Chair retirement (typically after a 6–9 year tenure); ahead of a listing, sale or significant transaction; on a change of ownership or a governance reset following a regulatory event; when the board matrix identifies a strategic gap the current Chair cannot fill.
How we search
The specific approach we take.
Chair searches are the longest and most structured mandates we run — typically 16–20 weeks from brief to appointment, sometimes longer. Candidate pools include former listed-company CEOs, sitting Chairs at adjacent companies who are approaching their tenure limit, and, for regulated environments, senior regulator alumni. Independence pre-checks are run before any first interview. Every shortlist is measured against FTSE Women Leaders Review and Parker Review commitments before it is shared with the Nomination Committee.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How is a Chair search different from a NED search?
The process is more structured, longer, and typically involves formal Board and shareholder interviews. The candidate pool is smaller, the compensation package involves a distinct Chair fee (materially higher than the NED base fee), and independence tests are applied more strictly.
How long does a Chair search take?
Sixteen to twenty weeks brief to appointment is typical, sometimes longer where the Nomination Committee runs multiple rounds of interviews. Shareholder consultation (in listed environments) or sponsor sign-off (in PE-backed businesses) can extend the process.
Do you handle Chair searches for regulated firms?
Yes. Regulated financial services Chair appointments are a specialism. We understand PRA/FCA fit-and-proper requirements, SMCR implications for the Chair seat, and the additional care required in the appointment process. Candidate profiles that will not pass regulatory pre-approval are filtered out early.
How is Chair compensation typically structured?
A fixed Chair fee, typically 2.5–4x the base NED fee for the same company. Committee membership carries no additional fee for the Chair, though additional roles (SID for a period, for example) may. Payment is typically monthly, in cash. Listed-company Chair fees vary widely but £150k–£450k is a typical range for FTSE 250 and £300k–£800k for FTSE 100.
What about Chair searches for private companies and PE-backed businesses?
Private-company Chair fees are typically lower in absolute terms than listed but often include a management equity component tied to exit. PE-backed businesses run the Chair search at portfolio level in coordination with the sponsor; we handle these under our Sponsor Coverage practice.
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