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If you are interested in a role that you understand Russell Reynolds Associates may be handling but do not see this listed below, please contact us at responses@russellreynolds.com and we will direct your query to the responsible consultant.
|
Organization |
Position Title |
Job/Reference Number |
Location |
Closing Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Operating Officer | 2505-517L | Leeds | June 29th 2025 | |
| Non-Executive Director and Audit Committee Chair | 2505-032L | London | June 30th 2025 | |
| President | 2503-002NA | Nassau, Bahamas | September 26th 2025 | |
| Chief Executive Officer | 2504-012L | United Kingdom | June 18th 2025 | |
| ---- | 2504-052-056 | ---- | June 4th 2025 | |
| Group Chief Technology Officer | 2504-021L | United Kingdom | May 20th 2025 | |
| Non-Executive Directors | P2504-043L | United Kingdom | May 21st 2025 | |
| Director, Consumer Finance | 2503-078L | United Kingdom | May 11th 2025 | |
| Rector-President | 2503-501L | Vienna, Austria | May 11th 2025 |
National Wealth Fund
Chief Operating Officer
Leeds
2505-517L
A Unique Opportunity to Shape a Pivotal UK Financial Institution
The National Wealth Fund (NWF) is at the forefront of investing public money for the UK's future. With an enhanced £27.8 billion in capital, our expanded remit now goes beyond infrastructure to include growth-driving industrial sectors like advanced manufacturing, alongside a renewed focus on clean energy, digital technologies, and transport, including investment in dual-use technologies.
We operate on a triple bottom line: delivering on the government's growth and clean energy missions, generating returns for the taxpayer, and crowding in private capital.
The Role
The National Wealth Fund seeks an exceptional Chief Operating Officer (COO) to provide executive leadership for Operations, IT, PMO, Procurement, and Facilities. As a key member of the Executive Team, you will be instrumental in shaping the strategy, planning, and future development of the NWF, working closely with the CEO and the Board.
You will be accountable for the delivery and continuous enhancement of the technology platform, operational processes, and infrastructure that underpin the Fund's strategy.
About You
The ideal candidate will be a proven leader with a significant track record in a senior capacity within wholesale banking or broader financial services, including experience interacting at the C-Suite level with oversight of functions such as Operations, IT, PMO, Procurement, and Facilities. You must be adept at operating effectively at Board level and with senior stakeholders, possessing a strong understanding of investment end-to-end processes and the deployment of best practice at an enterprise scale.
Furthermore, you will be passionate about the NWF's clean energy and growth policy objectives, bringing an entrepreneurial outlook and a willingness to be hands-on in the Fund's development.
Terms of Appointment and How to Apply
NWF has retained Russell Reynolds Associates to advise on this appointment. For further information about the position and additional details on qualifications, requirements, terms and conditions of service and how to apply, please review the position specification below.
The closing date for applications is 23:59 on Sunday 29th June 2025.
UK Export Finance
Non-Executive Director and Audit Committee Chair
London
2505-032L
UK Export Finance (UKEF) is the UK’s export credit agency and a government department. Founded in 1919 as the world’s first export credit agency, we have been innovating since day one, and now have over 100 years’ track record supporting UK exports.
Our mission is to advance prosperity by ensuring no viable UK export fails for lack of finance or insurance, doing that sustainably and at no net cost to the taxpayer. To do this we provide loans, guarantees and insurance to help UK companies win overseas sales, fulfil export contracts, and make sure that they get paid. We exist to complement, not compete with the private sector, and work with over 100 private credit insurers and lenders.
Our strategy remains one of ambitious evolution, building on over a century’s experience and success to support businesses to invest, grow and export delivering against our Business Plan, launched at the beginning of the 2024-25 financial year.
The UKEF Board, whose role is advisory, supports both the Accounting Officer and Ministers responsible for UKEF through operational oversight and by providing advice and challenge. The board is led by a non-executive Chair. Its membership comprises a majority of non-executive board members, including ex-officio representatives from DBT, UK Government Investments, and the Export Guarantees Advisory Council (EGAC), and three executive directors (the Chief Executive, the Chief Risk Officer and the Chief Finance and Operating Officer).
We are looking to appoint a Non-Executive Director to join the UKEF Board, transitioning into the role of Chair of the Audit Committee following a period of handover to ensure a smooth succession.
As a non-executive Board member, you will bring an external, independent perspective to UKEF’s operations engaging in all items that come to the Board, and providing support, mentoring and challenge to colleagues across UKEF. On transitioning into the role of Audit Chair, you will be required to build an open and effective relationship with key stakeholders such as the Chief Finance and Operating Officer, Audit Committee members, the Head of Internal Audit, and external auditors. As well as chairing the Audit Committee, you will be a member of the Risk Committee, partnering with the Risk Committee Chair in ensuring the Board exercises all its responsibilities across both remits effectively and efficiently.
We are seeking an outstanding individual with an enthusiasm for supporting UK exports. Candidates will be tested on their ability to operate effectively as the Chair of UKEF’s Audit Committee as well as a member of the wider UKEF Board
UKEF has retained Russell Reynolds Associates to advise on this appointment. For further information about the position and additional details on qualifications, requirements, terms and conditions of service and how to apply, please review the position specification below.
The closing date for applications is 23:59 on Monday 30th June 2025.
Templeton World Charity Foundation
President
Nassau, Bahamas
2503-002NA
Templeton World Charity Foundation (TWCF) is a global philanthropic organization based in Nassau, Bahamas, dedicated to funding interdisciplinary research and scientific breakthroughs that advance spiritual progress and human flourishing. With an annual grant payout of approximately $75–100 million USD, TWCF and its client, the Templeton Religion Trust (TRT), were established by Sir John Templeton to foster ambitious thinking, bold experimentation, and creative communication. The Foundation is supported by a dynamic team of 25 professionals and plays a leading role in shaping the future of philanthropy in pursuit of Sir John Templeton’s vision.
The TWCF is appointing a new President. The role presents an exceptional opportunity for a visionary yet humble leader to carry forward Sir John Templeton’s legacy, overseeing all aspects of the Foundation’s philanthropic activities and day-to-day operations. The President will be responsible for providing grant-making and related services to the TWCF as well as the TRT, creatively aligning strategies across both organizations, and ensuring effective stewardship of financial resources. The President will report to the TWCF Board of Trustees and engage closely with the governing bodies of both the TWCF and the TRT, supported by a strong organizational team and operational structure.
The TWCF seeks candidates who demonstrate intellectual curiosity, humility, and a passion for advancing spiritual and philosophical inquiry, free markets, and entrepreneurship. The President will be expected to foster a collaborative, inclusive, and intellectually curious culture, and to provide thought leadership through external communications and global representation. The ability to manage complex operations, align strategies, and drive impact across philanthropic portfolios is crucial.
The successful candidate will be a strategic and innovative leader with a master’s degree or higher in a relevant field (PhD and research experience preferred), and demonstrated management experience, ideally in a philanthropic, academic, or research-oriented environment. They will possess a deep commitment to Sir John Templeton’s vision, with experience in charitable grant-making, financial stewardship, and organizational leadership. Outstanding relationship-building and communication skills are essential, as is the ability to engage diverse stakeholders and represent the Foundation globally.
The President must reside in Nassau, Bahamas. Further information regarding relocation will be provided during the recruitment process.
To apply, please send your full CV and a supporting letter of interest highlighting your experience and skills relevant to the role to TWCFPresidentSearch@russellreynolds.com
TWCF is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. Applications are welcomed from all qualified candidates regardless of background.
Rural Payments Agency
Chief Executive Officer
United Kingdom
2504-012L
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) is an executive agency of the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and is the delivery body for a range of policies, schemes and services for the agricultural sector in England. It is responsible for distributing over £2 billion of payments each year to farmers, and land managers in England and works closely with the Farming and Countryside Programme (FCP) within Defra, the Government Major Programme that leads the transition from the pre-EU exit Common Agricultural Policy to domestic policies and schemes, including Environmental Land Management schemes. It is undergoing a period of significant change in its work, its relationships with customers and the digital, data and technology capabilities it relies on.
We are seeking a new Chief Executive to lead the Rural Payments Agency through this exciting period. They will set policy and direction and ensure the RPA's plans are delivered in line with its responsibilities and Defra’s strategic priorities. As a leader within Defra, they will also work closely with other senior leaders and chief executives to deliver collectively across the entirety of the Department. This role is for a customer-focused, collaborative and confidence-inspiring leader who is energised by the idea of:
- leading a large organisation working across multiple sites on a range of services for the farmers and land managers who look after 70% of the land in England
- working in ongoing partnership across organisations, disciplines and teams to deliver ambitious outcomes for food, farming and the environment
- embedding user-centred principles and practices across the whole organisation
- embracing new digital, data and technology and the agile, multidisciplinary ways of working that are needed to make services work better for customers and outcomes
- building the capabilities to continuously adapt policies, schemes and services to respond to evolving policy priorities, learning and feedback.
DEFRA has retained Russell Reynolds Associates to advise on this appointment. For further information about the position and additional details on qualifications, requirements, terms and conditions of service and how to apply, please review the position specification below.
The closing date for applications is Wednesday 18th June 2025.
UK Deposit Management Organisation
2504-052-056
Across England, Northern Ireland and Scotland, consumers buy an estimated 30 billion single-use drinks containers each year – including 12 billion plastic drinks bottles and 13 billion drinks cans. We know that a third of all litter in the UK is beverage containers with an estimated 6.5 billion single-use drinks bottles and cans per year going to waste rather than being recycled. Research shows 97% of beaches were polluted with drinks-related items in 2023.
The Government has pledged to end the throwaway society and clean up Britain, as it implements legislation for a deposit return scheme (DRS) for drinks containers in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Once the scheme launches in October 2027, consumers will have a financial incentive to return empty containers to a collection point, such as at their local supermarket, so that the bottle or can will be recycled. Used in more than 50 countries worldwide as a common-sense means of encouraging people to recycle more single-use bottles and cans, a DRS sees people being paid back for returning the container.
At the heart of this reimagined system is the creation of a new Deposit Management Organisation, a single, not-for-profit industry-led body made up of drinks producers, retailers, and the wider supply chain with the mandate to design, deliver and operate the DRS across England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The DMO will be responsible for the entire lifecycle of the scheme: managing logistics, financial flows, fraud prevention, and regulatory compliance to ensure high return rates and system efficiency, and with a multi-billion pound income, the DMO will have a powerful impact in waste and carbon reduction. It will also serve as the central interface between government, industry and the public, building trust and transparency while ensuring the environmental and economic goals of the scheme are met.
To develop and operationalise the DMO, the steering group are now seeking to build strong leadership capability for the organisation, with a number of priority roles to be appointed. These include:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Chief Financial Officer
- Independent Chair
- Independent Non-Executive Directors (x2)
This group of individuals will bring together a broad range of skills and experiences to successfully deliver the DMO’s objectives, and will be representative of the diversity of the consumers, businesses and nations that the DMO will serve.
Russell Reynolds Associates has been retained to advise on these appointments. For further information about the position and additional details on qualifications, requirements, terms and conditions of service and how to apply, please review the position specification below.
The closing date for applications is 23:59 on Wednesday 4th June 2025.
Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer Independent Chair Non-Executive Directors
Ministry of Justice
Group Chief Technology Officer
United Kingdom
2504-021L
At the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), we are on a mission to transform services through the better use of technology. The role of Group Chief Technology Officer will play a critical role in helping us achieve this vision by driving digital transformation across both our public-facing and colleague-facing services.
The MoJ works to protect and advance the principles of justice. Our vision is to deliver a world-class justice system that works for everyone in society. The justice system plays a crucial role in our success as a nation – keeping people safe, emphasising fairness, guaranteeing individual rights and giving businesses confidence to flourish.
The Group Chief Technology Officer will be responsible for leading the technology strategy for the Ministry of Justice, the largest department in Whitehall, which has a budget of over £13bn annually and employs over 90,000 staff. They will be responsible for the technology strategy and delivery spanning a budget of over £900m. The CTO will have responsibility for technology choices that inform decisions across several business units, including the delivery of the tech strategy, architecture, and technology capabilities underpinning prisons, the probation service, legal aid services, agencies supporting victims and vulnerable people, and the Ministry’s headquarters.
Your leadership will unite and organise a vast and diverse community of technical professionals, ensuring our services are seamlessly integrated and operate cohesively. In collaboration with directors leading our product and digital teams, you will cultivate a culture centered on product thinking, innovation, and efficient delivery.
The Ministry of Justice has retained Russell Reynolds Associates to advise on this appointment. For further information about the position and additional details on qualifications, requirements, terms and conditions of service and how to apply, please review the position specification below.
The closing date for applications is 23:55 on Tuesday 20th May 2025.
National Wealth Fund
Non-Executive Director
United Kingdom
P2504-043L
The Chancellor of the Exchequer wishes to appoint three new Non-Executive Directors to the Board of Directors of the National Wealth Fund (NWF). The Board is responsible for providing leadership, setting strategic direction, reviewing the performance of management, and ensuring that the obligations to the shareholder and other stakeholders are understood and met.
The NWF is the UK government’s primary Public Financial Institution and is at the forefront of investing public money for our future. To date the NWF, and its predecessor organisation the UK Infrastructure Bank (UKIB), has invested £5.3 billion, mobilising £12.9 billion of private finance, and created or supported over 20,000 jobs. Through its leadership role, the NWF provides markets with the long-term certainty to build and supports investor confidence. It invests in key projects to reduce carbon emissions, create jobs, improve the UK’s economic security, and support regional and local authorities to invest in their areas. The objectives of the NWF are reflected in its triple bottom line: helping deliver the government's growth and clean energy missions, generating a return for the taxpayer, and crowding in private capital.
The Chancellor has set the ambition to go further over the course of this parliament, entrusting NWF with additional capital to be deployed over and above the original commitment. The NWF will have £27.8 billion of financial capacity and an increased risk appetite with up to £7 billion in economic capital to hold against investments. The NWF is uniquely placed to bridge the gap between public ambition and private sector finance, playing a pivotal role in driving growth as an engrained part of the UK’s financial architecture. Its mandate is set out in its Strategic Steer from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, although it will operate with a high degree of operational independence in its day-to-day activities, especially with regard to investment decisions.
To ensure the board continues to have the right blend of skills and experience to support the strategic ambitions and activities of the NWF, three new Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) are being sought to the board. NEDs are expected to contribute to matters ranging, for example, from supporting the government's growth and clean energy missions to the management of a wide variety of risks, as well as assessing the different strategies and interventions that might be required for different parts of the UK where there is an undersupply of private finance. The board is also responsible for the review and approval of lending and investment decisions above a certain threshold.
Candidates will have senior, board level leadership experience with a strong track record of delivery and will bring demonstrable knowledge and experience in one or more of the following areas, or the ability to quickly grasp the key issues in:
- Working with sub-national, mayoral, regional, and local government or devolved governments and an understanding of project development and financing with these authorities.
- Experience of working in finance and risk management with exposure to an audit and risk committee of a financial entity, comparable business, or equivalent experience.
- Structuring, monitoring, or managing financing transactions from either a banking or principal perspective.
NWF has retained Russell Reynolds Associates to advise on this appointment. For further information about the position and additional details on qualifications, requirements, terms and conditions of service and how to apply, please review the position specification below.
The closing date for applications is 23:55 on 21st May 2025.
Financial Conduct Authority
Director, Consumer Finance
United Kingdom
2503-078L
At the FCA, we’re creating a fair and more resilient financial system. We are establishing more transparent relationships between financial services and customers, building trust in financial markets and protecting vulnerable consumers.
Together, we are on an exciting journey as we drive forward significant organisational, people, process, and technology transformation to become a more forward-thinking, proactive regulator. We will use data more effectively to drive better regulatory decisions and build greater cohesion across our broad financial services remit.
The Director of Consumer Finance is an important senior leadership role within the Supervision, Policy and Competition (SPC) Division in the FCA. It reports directly to the Executive Director of Consumers and Competition. The Director will be leading key regulatory work in support of the FCA’s new 5-year strategy which seeks to deepen trust, rebalance risk, support growth and improve lives.
This leadership role will lead the delivery of the FCA strategy across firms in the consumer finance market – leading a team of 125-150 colleagues across multiple FCA locations. The director will drive a focus on creating a culture of being open, curious, collaborative and resourceful in support of delivery of the new FCA strategy. To deliver their responsibilities, the role holder and their directorate will work in very close collaboration with the wider FCA Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and other FCA divisions.
The Financial Conduct Authority has retained Russell Reynolds Associates to advise on this appointment. For further information about the position and additional details on qualifications, requirements, terms and conditions of service and how to apply, please review the position specification below.
The closing date for applications is 23:59 on Sunday 11th May 2025.
Central European University
Rector-President
Vienna, Austria
2503-501L
Central European University (CEU) in Vienna, Austria, is inviting applications from visionary and inclusive academic leaders as new Rector-President with an effective start date of August 1, 2026. A beacon of academic excellence and innovation, renowned for its dedication to addressing complex global challenges through education and research, CEU provides its 1,500 students and 180 faculty with a dynamic environment where intellectual curiosity and diversity thrive. As an institution committed to societal progress, CEU is poised for its next phase of leadership and development. CEU is known for its emphasis on advanced research and academic excellence primarily in the social sciences and humanities, and for its mission centered around the values of open society. CEU is accredited in the US and in Austria.
The Rector-President of CEU will guide the University towards realizing its strategic ambitions and enhancing its global presence. This role demands an inspiring leader who can build on CEU's established strengths in the social sciences and humanities and equip it to face the challenges of the next generation. The Rector-President will be tasked with articulating a vision that aligns with CEU's mission and values and deepens its partnerships with other teaching and research institutions.
In embracing this prestigious role, the Rector-President will immerse themselves in Vienna's unique cultural and educational landscape, serving not only as an academic leader but also as a prominent figure in the city's intellectual and social life. The Rector-President will embody CEU's core values of academic excellence, diversity, and inclusivity, setting the tone for the institution's culture and aspirations. An accomplished communicator, this person will engage with a wide range of audiences, including academic peers, governmental bodies, industry partners, and the broader community, fostering relationships that are crucial for CEU's success.
Candidates for the Rector-President position will bring a distinguished academic and research track record, with proven experience in leading complex academic organizations. The ability to inspire and unite teams will be essential, as will a demonstrable commitment to academic excellence and freedom of inquiry. Proficiency in English is required, and knowledge of German will be an asset.
The Central European University has retained Russell Reynolds Associates to assist with this appointment. For further information about the position and additional details on qualifications, requirements, terms and conditions of service and how to apply, please review the position specification below.
The closing date for applications is May 11th 2025.