Good governance is the backbone of any thriving organisation, and for a charity with global reach and a centuries-long mission, getting the right people around the table matters enormously. When Church Mission Society (CMS) came to us to lead their Board recruitment, we knew this was a search worth doing brilliantly.

A relationship built on trust

Our work with CMS did not begin here. We had previously supported them in appointing their Director of Fundraising and Communications, and that experience gave us a strong foundation to build on. CMS knew what we were capable of, and we knew what CMS stood for. That mutual understanding made a real difference from the very first conversation.

When they returned to us for Board-level support, it felt like a natural next step. It is always a privilege when a client comes back, and it says something meaningful about the relationship we had developed together.

What CMS were looking for

CMS came to us with a clear and ambitious goal. They wanted to diversify their Board and bring in trustees who could genuinely strengthen it, people with specialist expertise across finance, fundraising, marketing, governance, HR and international mission.

This was not a case of filling seats. CMS wanted to actively shape the next chapter of their global impact, and they needed a Board that reflected the breadth and complexity of that ambition. They set a target of appointing at least four new trustees, and they were serious about getting it right.

A proactive search, built for results

To meet that brief, we designed a tailored, proactive search strategy. That meant combining targeted advertising with extensive direct headhunting, approaching nearly 500 candidates across a wide range of backgrounds and sectors. We were not waiting for the right people to find us. We went looking for them.

Every candidate was put through a rigorous vetting process, because for a Board of this significance, high volume without high quality would have been pointless. What we were after was a longlist that gave CMS genuine choices, not just names on a page.

We approached nearly 500 candidates to build a longlist of 20 exceptional individuals, each bringing something distinct to the table.

The result was a longlist of 20 strong candidates, each with different expertise, different lived experiences and different perspectives. That diversity was not accidental. It was the goal.

The outcome: spoilt for choice

At the time of writing, CMS have taken eight candidates through to final-stage interviews, which is a genuine reflection of how strong the pool turned out to be. In fact, the Board described themselves as feeling "spoilt for choice," which is exactly the kind of problem we enjoy creating for our clients.

They are now considering appointing up to six new trustees over the coming months from this outstanding group. That is a remarkable position to be in, and a testament to what a well-executed search can deliver when the brief is clear and the process is thorough.

Why Board recruitment is different

Trustee and Board recruitment carries its own particular challenges. These are voluntary roles, which means the candidates you are looking for are often already stretched, already committed elsewhere, and not necessarily browsing job boards. You have to find them, engage them thoughtfully, and make a compelling case for why this organisation deserves their time and energy.

For CMS, the stakes were high. This is an organisation doing genuinely meaningful work across the world, and its Board needs to be equal to that mission. The individuals we surfaced were not just qualified on paper. They were people who understood what CMS is trying to do and wanted to be part of it.

Building boards that last

What we find most rewarding about this kind of work is that the impact goes well beyond the immediate appointment. The right Board shapes strategy, asks the right questions, and gives leadership the confidence to move boldly. When you get governance right, the whole organisation benefits.

CMS's commitment to building a Board that is diverse, skilled and genuinely mission-driven has been inspiring to be part of. We are proud to have supported them in taking that vision forward.

Ready to strengthen your Board?

If your organisation is thinking about Board or trustee recruitment and you want a search partner who will approach it with care, rigour and a genuine commitment to finding the right people, we would love to hear from you.

Get in touch with the Charisma team