en
Login
Exceptional chairs. Extraordinary governance. Enduring impact.
Selecting the right board chair is perhaps the most critical governance decision your organization will make—one that determines how effectively your board navigates complex challenges, maintains stakeholder trust, and drives sustainable performance.
We help you find a board chair who brings the perfect balance of leadership gravitas, strategic insight, and collaborative spirit. Our comprehensive board chair search identifies, assesses, and secures exceptional candidates—that position both the chair and your organization for lasting success.
The board searches we deliver
Board chair
Audit Committee chair
Nominating Committee chair
Compensation Committee chair
Finance Committee chair
Other Committee chair
Client success stories
Global financial services provider
A leading global financial services provider headquartered in Germany was seeking a new board chair after the initial search firm was not retained. This created an urgent and challenging situation requiring immediate attention.
How we worked together
Given the broken search circumstances, we stepped in quickly with utmost confidentiality. In an extensive yet efficient process, we considered financial services chairs who met regulatory fit and proper standards, as well as other experienced candidates with strong regional credibility. We navigated the requirement for a native speaker while guiding the supervisory board through a candidate selection process aligned with strategic objectives and stakeholder expectations.
Results and impact
We successfully placed a candidate with a strong CEO track record in financial services, extensive board experience, and expertise spanning banking and technology. The appointment delivered experienced leadership during a critical transition, ensuring governance continuity while meeting all regulatory and stakeholder requirements in a complex, time-sensitive situation.
Investment trust company
A £1bn market cap listed investment trust providing diversified private equity investments was planning for chair succession. The incumbent chair had served seven and a half years, including guiding the company through its listing. The board now sought a successor to join as a non-executive director in early 2023 for an orderly transition.
How we worked together
We defined the ideal candidate profile, which included deep private equity knowledge, an understanding of listed corporate governance and investment trust operations, and significant board experience with chair capability. Through robust research and network sourcing, we targeted chairs of listed investment trusts with additional private equity or alternative asset experience. Given the limited pool of qualified candidates, we also considered senior independent directors and committee chairs, prioritizing private equity experience as critical for investment manager credibility.
Results and impact
From an initial longlist of prospects, we presented a shortlist of candidates . Final candidates met with the investment manager, enabling thorough evaluation. We successfully identified a successor with the specialized expertise needed to guide the investment trust, ensuring continuity of governance standards during the transition period.
Our board chair search strategy: Finding exceptional board chairs
As a board-focused practice, we handle many chair and other non-executive appointments. Our dedicated board chair search consultants deeply understand this role, and how to handle the multiplicity of stakeholders in the process.
Step 1: Kick-off and briefing
We conduct comprehensive briefings with the board, executive team, and other relevant stakeholders to understand your strategic context, finalize the chair role specification, and tailor the search timeline to meet your specific needs.
Step 2: Research, sourcing and longlist review
We build a list of prospective candidates through rigorous research and market intelligence-led approach, identify and contact target candidates, then review the list with the Nomination Committee focusing on available and interested candidates.
Step 3: Assessment and client interviews
We conduct detailed assessment interviews and comprehensive candidate reports evaluating fit including competencies, experience, motivation and capacity, followed by candidate interviews with the Nomination Committee while maintaining momentum throughout the process.
Step 4: Final selection and offer
We provide detailed reference reports and potential background assessments, work with you to agree on the successful candidate, conduct final due diligence, support with offer letters and regulatory notifications, and coordinate the announcement of appointment.
Step 5: Client feedback and transition support
We facilitate comprehensive client feedback and search review sessions, with optional transition support through onboarding and mentoring programs tailored to the candidate's experience and needs.
Related capabilities
October 07, 2025 7 min read
September 25, 2025 4 min read
September 25, 2025 9 min read
Your questions about board chair recruitment, answered.
What types of board chair roles do you help organizations hire?
We recruit for the full spectrum of board leadership roles, including non-executive chairs, executive chairs, lead independent directors, committee chairs (including audit, compensation, and nominations and governance), and other strategic board leadership positions. Our expertise spans public companies, private equity-backed firms, private organizations, and non-profit institutions across all sectors and growth stages.
What makes RRA different from other board chair search firms?
Our specialist board chair advisors have extensive experience working with boards at major global organizations across industries. We understand that the role of the board is continually evolving, requiring different expertise as the business landscape shifts. In today's shifting environment, advising on optimal board composition is crucial for navigating turbulent times. We don't just fill positions—we help you define what board leadership should look like for your specific strategic needs, then find leaders who can deliver transformative results. We serve as strategic advisors throughout the entire process—from role definition through successful integration of your new board chair.
How can we ensure the effectiveness of board chair appointments?
Successful board chair hires require alignment of governance expertise, strategic vision, and leadership capabilities. We implement a comprehensive assessment approach that includes in-depth competency-based interviews, psychometric evaluations, reference checking, and situational analysis. Our process identifies candidates who not only possess strong governance knowledge but also demonstrate the strategic thinking, stakeholder management abilities, and leadership qualities needed to guide effective boards in today's complex business environment.
How can we find the best board chair candidates?
We maintain extensive networks of high-performing board leaders across industries and geographies. Our sourcing strategy leverages established relationships with proven board directors and proprietary research methodologies. We identify candidates who may not be actively seeking new opportunities but whose expertise in corporate governance, CEO succession, strategic oversight, and stakeholder engagement align perfectly with your organizational needs.
How do you help newly appointed board chairs succeed?
We know that finding the right board leadership talent is just the beginning. Our strategic board recruitment services can include comprehensive onboarding support to ensure your new board chair can make an impact quickly. We facilitate key relationship building, help align expectations, and provide ongoing coaching during the critical first months to maximize the chances of long-term success.
What geographic regions do you cover for board chair recruitment?
Our board chair recruitment capabilities extend globally. As a leading global leadership advisory firm, we maintain deep networks of board leadership talent across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and emerging markets, allowing us to recruit board chairs wherever your organization operates.
Where can I find the top board chair search consultants?
RRA's specialized board leadership consultants bring decades of collective experience placing top board chairs across industries. Our consultants understand the evolving role of modern board leaders who must balance governance oversight with strategic guidance, ESG considerations, and stakeholder management. Our deep understanding of board dynamics enables us to identify candidates with the precise blend of governance expertise and leadership qualities your organization needs.