Sherrington Associates recruits new Director of Marketing for Bolesworth

---

In late 2023 Sherrington were approached by the Chair of Cheshire-based rural estate and high-profile events business Bolesworth, to support their search for a new Director of Marketing.

Bolesworth Estate, set in the heart of the Cheshire countryside, has been under careful stewardship of the Barbour family since 1856, and is a wonderful example of rural diversification. The vast Bolesworth Estate is home to over 150 residential properties, as well as a similar number of commercial enterprises, including the much-loved Ice Cream Farm based just outside of Tattenhall. Bolesworth Estate with a wide range of topography and stunning scenery has so much to offer tenants and visitors who can enjoy the numerous benefits of an idyllic rural setting with the convenience of a thriving local community.

Over the previous two decades, Bolesworth had diversified from its’ core origins as a farming and property portfolio, to include a world-class events venue with a leading reputation in equestrian and motor events. At the point of retaining our services, Bolesworth had imminent plans to launch an exciting new leisure business, including pubs, holiday lets and a range of leisure activities. The appointment of the new Director of Marketing would be an opportunity to develop and execute a new, integrated marketing strategy across Bolesworth's property, events and leisure businesses, and to embrace a new tech-powered approach to marketing Bolesworth's portfolio of products and services.

---

The Requirement

To achieve success in the new role, the Director of Marketing would need to bring dynamism, strategic thinking and an understanding of multi-channel marketing from a relevant organisational setting. Due to the uniqueness of Bolesworth's offer, the search would require both creativity and market knowledge from our consultants in order to find suitable candidates that could speak to Bolesworth's wishlist of candidate criteria. To help our clients choose the best possible candidate from a range of different market backgrounds including rural estates, hospitality, events and leisure, it was decided the search would take a multi-sector approach, targeting leadership candidates with different sector backgrounds, in order to provide depth and choice within the shortlist.

---

The Search

Working closely with Bolesworth's Managing Director and wider team, in December 2023 Sherrington developed a clear and transparent briefing document before commencing research, to make sure all parties agreed search parameters and candidate criteria. Our consultants then developed a campaign plan with exacting timescales and key milestones, making sure we worked to achieve our client's aspirations for this person's appointment. Carrying out extensive desk research using a proven search methodology, our team got to work mapping the candidate landscape in order to establish a relevant longest of marketing leaders. Meanwhile, referrals were gained from our extensive network across the North-West regional talent pool.

Following several weeks of painstaking research and headhunting, a longlist of ten CVs was presented to the client who agreed our recommended candidates should be taken forward for interviews with the Sherrington team. Candidates were then invited to selection with both our Managing Consultant and Head Researcher, during which both biographical and competency questions were answered. Candidates also completed a Barrett PVA (Personal Values Assessment) to further scrutinise alignment with Bolesworth's culture and values.

Following longlist interviews, a shortlist of four candidates were selected to progress to interview stage with Bolesworth. Our team then managed a two-stage selection process between the shortlisted candidates and the client's panel of interviewers, and finally after an exhaustive search and selection campaign, an offer was made to the best candidate for the role.

---

Commenting on the experience, Bolesworth's Managing Director Nina Barbour commented...