Recruiting for a new RNLI Chief Executive

As we look ahead to 2024, we know this will be a momentous year for our charity as we prepare to celebrate 200 years of lifesaving. We also know that Mark Dowie will be standing down as our Chief Executive at the end of June 2024, marking the end of his incredible five-year term.  

Mark has always been keen to hand over in the middle of our 200th year, so his successor can be a part of our bicentenary celebrations and lead us into the next era of lifesaving.   

While this is still some way off, we have now started the process to recruit Mark’s successor.

I am leading the recruitment process, with support from a sub-committee of the Trustee Board. We are working with executive search firm Saxton Bampfylde (SaxBam), who will handle the external search process. SaxBam were involved in both mine and Mark’s recruitment, so already know the RNLI well.

The team at SaxBam will be spending the next few weeks talking to RNLI volunteers and staff to ensure that their knowledge and understanding of the RNLI is up to date, and they can be effective ambassadors for us when talking to prospective candidates. 

This will include discussions with the Trustee Board and Senior Leadership Team about the skills and experience we are looking for in the next Chief Executive, as well as discussions with other volunteers and staff, including representatives from our People Networks and Channel. They will also be visiting Poole to see the operations there.

Your valued input

Appointing a new Chief Executive is a significant moment for any organisation, and it’s important that everyone has an opportunity to be a part of this process. 

I want to invite you all to share your views, input and feedback to help inform the search process. For example, what characteristics do you want from a leader? What’s important to you from our next Chief Executive? What factors do you believe we need to consider?

This is an important opportunity to contribute and help shape the future of the RNLI, and I’d encourage you all to take the time to get in touch.

If you’d like to get involved, please email your thoughts to [email protected] before Thursday 31 August.

Milestones

The external search will begin in September. The job advert and recruitment brief will be made available to all volunteers and staff so that you can promote it among your networks.

The intention is that an appointment will be made before the end of the year, with the successful candidate stepping into the role next summer.

In the meantime, Mark remains very much in charge as our Chief Executive, and I know he is extremely proud to be leading the organisation into our 200th year.

Finally, may I take this opportunity to say thank you for everything you do for the RNLI. Every single day I’m inspired by the incredible people who make up this wonderful charity, and it’s a privilege to be a part of the team.