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Chief Executive Officer – Changing Lives Together

Changing Lives Together is a registered charity and social enterprise in Cheshire delivering crucial support to communities and vulnerable people. The charity delivers a number of local authority logistics contracts for community transport and bulky waste collection and also runs a number of retail outlets offering discounted furniture and white goods for low income residents and a busy food hub which has been a crucial lifeline throughout the pandemic and as the cost of living crisis unfolds.

Following the departure of Mike Jenkins who joined as CEO following the inception of the organisation in 2019, Sherrington were appointed in June 2022 to recruit a new Chief Executive Officer. Within the context of increasing economic uncertainty, the operating landscape for charities was becoming increasingly challenging. As such the charity required a strong commercial leader, with innovation and performance as key values and with a drive to lead the growth of the charity whilst delivering impact on CLT’s charitable objectives. CLT's brief for the new CEO was to lead the charity through a new chapter of growth against a backdrop of post-pandemic poverty and increasing demand for services in the wake of the cost of living crisis. Only an experienced leader with strong vision and an understanding of third sector governance could be considered. The ideal candidate was described as someone with both the governance background of leading a charity combined with the commerciality of leading a business.

Sherrington Associates executed a methodical search campaign throughout the summer of 2022, researching both private and third sector candidates to develop a diverse longlist of leadership candidates. Meeting clients at Changing Lives Together to evaluate the longlist, Sherrington advised on strengths, weaknesses before carrying out competency interviews and values assessments to inform the final shortlist.

After a thorough search with lots of interest from charity CEO’s across the region, in July we successfully secured the appointment of David Grocott, former CEO at IT-charity CITA and former Managing Director of a privately-owned home furnishings business. Commenting on the partnership with Sherrington, CLT's Head of HR said...

We are delighted with our new CEO. Sherrington were professional throughout the search and a pleasure to work with.

Rachel Waterman - Head of HR, Changing Lives Together

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