Dogs for Good is a remarkable charity with a simple but powerful belief: that the relationship between people and dogs can transform lives. From assistance dogs that support people with disabilities, to community dog programmes that reduce isolation, the organisation's work is as meaningful as it gets. Finding the right Chief Executive to lead it was never going to be a small task.

A significant moment of transition

After more than 25 years in post, the incumbent Chief Executive was preparing to retire. That kind of tenure tells you something important: this was a deeply embedded leader, someone who had shaped the organisation's culture, values, and direction over a long period. Replacing that kind of presence is not just a recruitment exercise. It is a moment that can define an organisation's next chapter.

Dogs for Good entrusted Charisma to manage the search, and we took that responsibility seriously from the very first conversation.

Getting under the skin of the organisation

Before we even began thinking about candidates, we did something we consider essential for any senior appointment: we listened. Our team conducted a detailed site visit and held in-depth consultations with internal stakeholders to make sure we truly understood what Dogs for Good needed, not just in terms of skills and experience, but in terms of values, personality, and fit.

This kind of groundwork matters. A Chief Executive who looks brilliant on paper but does not connect with the spirit of an organisation will struggle. We wanted to find someone who genuinely got it. Someone who understood the human-animal bond, who cared about dog welfare, and who had the leadership credentials to take the charity forward with confidence.

"Charisma formulate very clear plans and timescales for the recruitment process and then execute the plans in a very professional and timely manner. I have been particularly impressed by the way they took a lot of care to really understand the culture of Dogs for Good and our precise requirements and this has resulted in a very positive partnership."

Chief Executive, Dogs for Good

Defining the brief

Working closely with the outgoing Chief Executive and the wider leadership team, we developed a detailed brief that captured both the tangible and intangible requirements of the role.

The successful candidate would need to be a dynamic and inspirational leader, with a genuine passion for bringing people and dogs together to enrich lives. Beyond that vision, they would need solid, practical experience across a demanding range of areas: effective partnership development, external relationship management, staff development and motivation, business planning, income generation, financial management, and a robust understanding of governance.

That is a considerable combination of qualities. But Dogs for Good deserved nothing less.

A wide-reaching search

With the brief clearly defined, we launched a wide-reaching search that combined proactive headhunting with our established networks across the charity and not-for-profit sector. We did not wait for applications to land. We went out and found people, identifying and approaching individuals who might not have been actively looking but who had exactly the kind of profile Dogs for Good needed.

Each candidate went through our thorough vetting and interview process, ensuring that only those who genuinely met the criteria, and who had that essential passion for the mission, were taken forward.

The result was a strong shortlist of candidates, and ultimately a successful appointment of a new Chief Executive who was the right fit in every sense.

A relationship that grew

What happened next is something we are particularly proud of. Following the Chief Executive appointment, Dogs for Good returned to Charisma to support further senior hires. We went on to secure their Director of Income Generation, Director of People, and Director of Finance and Resources, as well as a number of fundraising and volunteering roles.

That kind of continued partnership does not happen by accident. It happens when a client feels genuinely supported, properly understood, and confident that the recruitment process is in good hands.

Charisma maintains an 84% repeat or referral client portfolio. Our ongoing work with Dogs for Good is a reflection of that.

What this appointment shows

Every recruitment is different. But the best ones share something in common: a real investment in understanding what a role actually requires, not just on the surface, but at the level of values, culture, and human impact.

Dogs for Good needed more than a capable executive. They needed someone who believed in what they do. Finding that person, and building a partnership that extended well beyond a single hire, is exactly the kind of work we do best.

If you are navigating a senior appointment and want a recruitment partner who will take the time to truly understand your organisation, we would love to talk.

Get in touch with our team at info@charismarecruitment.co.uk