CEO Appointment
Key Features
- Board-led process
- Internal and external candidates
- Legally robust and defensible
Facing uncertainty about whether their long-serving CEO was the right leader for the next phase of growth, the Board engaged Cultivate to run a transparent, criteria-based appointment process. Although the CEO chose not to apply, three internal candidates did — including the 2IC — and were assessed equally alongside external applicants using a measurable Success Profile co-developed with the Board.
The 2IC was shortlisted alongside three external candidates. When the final Board vote was split between the 2IC and a top external contender, Cultivate guided the Board to revisit the agreed criteria, helping shift focus back to the organisation’s priorities. A second vote followed, resulting in a clear 5–1 decision for the 2IC.
When the outgoing CEO later filed a Personal Grievance, Cultivate’s documentation proved the fairness and consistency of the process. The claim was not upheld — demonstrating not only a strong appointment outcome, but also a legally defensible process that protected all parties.
