Executive Search

Appointing CEO for a Local Government Organisation in VIC

Date Posted:31 January 2025
Consultant:David Baber

Executive search for a chief executive officer in local government. Identifying strategic leadership to drive organisational success.

CEO for Local Government

The Brief

A local government organisation with a history of prior placement partnerships with Future Leadership , once again partnered to conduct a search for a new chief executive officer (CEO).

Future Leadership Consultant David Baber and Kate Wheeler brought decades of experience and subject matter knowledge to the initial briefing with the organisation’s Mayor and Councillors, where a rigorous and methodical approach to identifying an ideal candidate was outlined. In particular, David and Kate knew that aligning the candidate’s skills, knowledge and experience to the Council’s future strategic direction and objectives was essential to a successful executive search process, and ensured this systematic approach underpinned their eventual search method.

9.19.1

Candidate net Promote Score

Future Leadership combines truly personalised relationships with innovative technology solutions to ensure an approachable and efficient process for all our Net Promoter Score across clients, successful candidates and unsuccessful candidates is well above industry standard.

10,000+10,000+

Candidates supported every year

We maintain genuine relationships with past candidates and continue to support them with leadership solutions long term, after they land their role.

50.5%50.5%

Senior Women Appointed since 2002

Over half of the executive search assignments undertaken by our team have resulted in the appointment of outstanding female or LGBTQI+ leaders to high profile roles.

98%98%

Candidate Retention Rate for 12 months since 2002

Our thorough briefing process and ability to engage passive candidates mean that we go to great lengths to find the right person for the role – long term!

The Process

Future Leadership implemented a structured, research-driven executive search methodology:

  1. Stakeholder engagement and briefing: Collaborated with the Mayor and Councillors to define success criteria and leadership attributes.
  2. Market mapping and candidate identification: Leveraged industry networks, talent mapping, and proactive outreach to identify top candidates.
  3. Candidate assessment and shortlisting: Conducted in-depth evaluations of candidates’ leadership competencies and alignment with strategic priorities.
  4. Client communication and selection support: Provided continuous progress reports, ensuring transparency and collaboration throughout the process.
  5. Final selection and appointment: Supported the organisation in securing a highly experienced CEO who met all key leadership and strategic requirements.

The Executive Search team targeted search and close collaboration with the selection panel enabled an efficient and effective appointment process.

Emerging Capabilities

01.

Culture and Engagement

Engages stakeholders inclusively with sensitivity and regard for diversity and facilitates a psychologically safe environment for social or cultural differences affecting behaviour.

02.

Communication and Influence

Communicates with clarity and impact to facilitate individual and collective understanding, inspire action and enable information exchange. Leverages human-centric communication and storytelling to effectively influence stakeholders across the physical and virtual realms.

03.

Organisational Capability

Anticipates future workplace skills and requirements and builds capability across the organisation. Pro-actively seeks opportunities to develop other people’s talent and career pathways and takes appropriate action to address skill gaps in others.

04.

Critical Thinking

Examines information for assumptions and gaps in logic; reframes problems and presents well-reasoned insights accommodating diverse perspectives. Persistent in asking insightful questions, enabling complex strategic judgements to be made across multiple dimensions.

05.

Personal Growth

Adopts a growth mindset and is motivated to continuously develop one's own knowledge, skills, and personal attributes through continued learning. Recognises when a learned behaviour is no longer useful. Reflects regularly on performance and ways to improve.

06.

Commercial Acumen

Provides a deep understanding of relevant industry, marketplace and business drivers as applicable to the organisation. Leverages the application of commercial tools and frameworks to manage opportunities, conflicts and trade offs. Able to focus on customer service requirements and acts proactively to raise the customer experience.

07.

Initiative and Drive

Leads self by working independently, setting and attaining personal and work related goals, and demonstrating motivation and responsibility for their own actions. Demonstrates awareness of personal strengths and improvement areas. Effectively relates to others in a professional manner.

The Outcome

Future Leadership was pleased to support the appointment of the successful candidate as the new CEO of the local government organisation.

The candidate demonstrated expertise in governance, stakeholder engagement, and community-driven leadership. The appointment has strengthened the organisation’s leadership team, positioning it for long-term success.

Consultant

David Baber

Partner, Executive Search View Profile
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