I can see the British Motor Museum case study PDF. Let me write this up as a full 800-1200 word case study following Charisma's blog rules.

Finding the right CEO for the British Motor Museum

The British Motor Museum is no ordinary institution. Home to the largest collection of historic British cars and motor industry archive in the world, it holds Designated status recognising the national and international significance of its Archive and Motor Car Collections, totalling over 450 vehicles spanning 135 years of motoring history. From veteran and vintage to classic and modern, it is a living, breathing testament to British automotive heritage.

When an organisation of this calibre needs a new CEO, the stakes are high. The Museum is accredited by Arts Council England and holds National Portfolio Organisation status, meaning its leadership must balance creative ambition with commercial acumen, and do so in a way that honours the institution's extraordinary legacy. That is exactly the kind of recruitment challenge Charisma was built for.

A role with real weight

The new CEO would carry significant responsibility from day one. The brief called for a leader capable of setting the creative vision for the organisation's development, while simultaneously maximising charitable and commercial opportunities to meet annual targets and the Trust's longer-term ambitions.

That meant driving growth across collections impact, brand presence, audience development and participation, as well as furthering the Museum's conferencing and events offer. It was a role that required someone with both the strategic sharpness to lead a major heritage institution and the genuine passion to champion what makes the Museum so special.

Finding that person is where Charisma came in.

A far-reaching campaign

Charisma's approach combined three distinct strands: targeted network utilisation, active headhunting, and a vibrant marketing campaign designed to attract the widest possible pool of talent. The result was impressive. A total of 140 applications arrived from across all channels, a volume that speaks to both the appeal of the role and the strength of the campaign behind it.

From there, Charisma's consultant Katherine got to work. Over 50 vetting interviews were conducted, each one carefully assessed against the requirements of the role and the values of the organisation. That thorough process produced a curated longlist of 14 candidates, each of whom represented a credible and considered option for the Museum's selection committee.

Collaborating with the client

One of the things that sets Charisma apart is the way we work alongside our clients rather than simply handing over a list of names. The shortlisting session was genuinely collaborative, with Katherine working closely with the selection committee to bring the field down to seven candidates for interview.

Three of those seven were selected for the final stage, and this was not a light-touch process. Finalists were asked to deliver a presentation, take part in a panel interview, tour the Museum itself, and meet with the senior leadership team. It was a thorough and thoughtful process designed to give the Museum real confidence in whoever they appointed.

The right person for the role

The successful candidate brought exactly what the Museum needed. Their background was rooted in place-making within the heritage sector, with experience spanning both the UK and the United States. That breadth of knowledge, combined with a strong network and a genuine connection to the sector, meant they arrived not just with the skills to lead but with the relationships and insight to make an immediate impact.

Charisma handled the offer negotiations and finalised the verbal offer, including relocation arrangements, ensuring the process was smooth and professional right to the end. Candidates who were not appointed also received meaningful feedback, something Charisma considers an important part of any well-run campaign.

What the client had to say

The Chair of the Board reflected warmly on the experience of working with Katherine throughout the process:

"I'd like to thank Katherine, our external recruitment consultant. She guided us throughout the process, both on the initial job description and written material explaining to potential candidates the relevant background information in relation to the Trust and also how we might best advertise the role. She also conducted the initial filtering process, a not insignificant undertaking given the huge number of applications and interest in the role. She acted as a perfect conduit between the interviewing team and the candidates and more than vindicated our choice in appointing her to help us in this most important process."

That kind of feedback means a great deal to us. It reflects not just a successful outcome but a genuine partnership, one built on trust, communication and a shared commitment to getting it right.

Heritage recruitment done well

The British Motor Museum appointment is a strong example of what Charisma does best in the heritage and cultural sector. It takes more than a well-written job advert to attract the right CEO for an institution like this. It takes sector knowledge, a genuine understanding of what great leadership looks like in a heritage context, and the ability to manage a high-volume, high-stakes process with care and precision.

Katherine's work on this campaign, from shaping the initial brief through to finalising the offer, demonstrates exactly the kind of end-to-end expertise that organisations in the arts, heritage and culture space can expect when they work with Charisma.

Whether you are a large national institution or a smaller specialist organisation, the approach is always the same: thorough, personalised, and focused entirely on finding the right person for the right role.

Ready to find your next leader?

If you are looking for senior leadership support in the heritage, arts or culture sector, we would love to hear from you. Get in touch with the team at info@charismarecruitment.co.uk and let us help you find the leader your organisation deserves.