Chief Executive Appointment

The Brief

When Great Places Housing Group began the search for a new Chief Executive following more than a decade of strong leadership, they were clear in their ambition. With a credible internal candidate already identified, the Board nonetheless wished to undertake a full and transparent national search. The new leader would be tasked with shaping the next phase of the organisation’s strategic journey, leading one of the North’s most progressive housing associations, with a portfolio of over 25,000 homes across the North West, Yorkshire and Derbyshire.

The role required an individual with substantial leadership experience in complex, regulated environments, the strategic ability to drive innovation and transformation, and the authenticity to connect with diverse communities, colleagues and stakeholders. The challenge lay in ensuring a fair, objective and inclusive process that balanced internal expectations with a robust external market assessment.

The Challenge

Given the presence of a strong internal candidate, this assignment required particularly careful handling. The process needed to be rigorous and impartial while respecting internal dynamics. The Board sought not only assurance that the internal talent had been appropriately benchmarked but also wanted a campaign that could attract exceptional candidates from across and beyond the sector.

Great Places required someone who could bring gravitas, energy, and empathy, combined with strong commercial acumen and a deep understanding of housing’s social purpose. The successful candidate would also need to guide the organisation through emerging regulatory changes, digital transformation, and the evolution of customer expectations.

Our Approach

Neemar Search worked closely with the Chair and Board from the outset, attending Board meetings and advising on process, market context and stakeholder engagement. We ran a national search, combining targeted outreach with branded digital campaigns, and engaged directly with our NS Communities to identify values-aligned leaders with the right mix of experience and ambition.

Alongside formal assessment methods, including panel interviews and psychometric profiling, we supported the Board in balancing objectivity with cultural fit. Careful communication helped to manage internal expectations, ensuring the internal candidate felt respected and valued while remaining transparent about the competitive nature of the process.

By embedding ourselves in the client’s context, we were able to provide more than a shortlist. We helped shape the narrative, support decision-making, and create a recruitment process that reflected the integrity and ambition of Great Places.

Our Impact

This campaign resulted in the successful appointment of a Chief Executive who embodied both sector expertise and fresh perspective, with Board confidence firmly behind the decision. The internal candidate remained engaged and supported through the process, retaining their place as a key leader within the organisation.

Great Places’ profile as an employer of choice was further strengthened through a process that was professional, fair and transparent. Our role extended well beyond search, serving as a trusted advisor to the Board and a steward of their values throughout. The outcome reflects Neemar Search’s commitment to long-term, purposeful partnerships and our unique ability to balance commercial rigour with the human nuances of leadership transitions.