CEO Search Richard Whitehead Foundation

Valued Recruitment was appointed to lead the search for a visionary Chief Executive Officer who could guide the Richard Whitehead Foundation into its next phase of growth and impact. Established by Paralympic champion Richard Whitehead, the Foundation is dedicated to inspiring and supporting individuals with disabilities through sport, education and community initiatives. As the organisation looked to expand its reach and strengthen its long-term sustainability, appointing the right CEO was a critical step in shaping its future.

The Challenge

The Foundation required a leader who could balance purpose with strategy: someone capable of protecting the organisation’s powerful mission while also driving operational growth, building partnerships and scaling programmes nationally. The successful candidate would need to demonstrate strong leadership across the charity and social impact sector, with the credibility to engage stakeholders ranging from community partners and educators to funders and advocates for disability inclusion.

For Valued Recruitment, this meant conducting a search that went beyond traditional executive recruitment. The brief called for a candidate who not only possessed the right professional experience, but who also deeply connected with the Foundation’s values and the transformative power of sport and opportunity.

Our Approach

Valued Recruitment designed a targeted executive search strategy focused on purpose-driven leadership. Drawing on our networks across the charity, education, and social impact sectors, we identified individuals with a proven track record of delivering meaningful community outcomes while leading organisations through periods of growth and change.

Our process included:

• Conducting extensive market mapping across the UK charity and social enterprise landscape

• Engaging high-calibre leaders aligned with the Foundation’s mission and values

• Managing a rigorous and inclusive selection process in partnership with the Foundation’s board

• Ensuring candidates demonstrated both strategic capability and authentic commitment to disability inclusion

Throughout the search, our focus remained on identifying a leader who could elevate the Foundation’s profile, strengthen its partnerships, and expand opportunities for the communities it serves.

The Outcome

Following a comprehensive search, Valued Recruitment successfully secured Lisa May as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Richard Whitehead Foundation. Lisa brings a wealth of experience in leadership, organisational development and mission-driven impact, making her ideally placed to guide the Foundation through its next chapter.

Her appointment marks an important milestone for the organisation.

Our Impact

The successful placement of Lisa demonstrates Valued Recruitment’s ability to deliver high-impact leadership appointments for purpose-led organisations. By combining sector insight, strategic search expertise, and a deep understanding of mission-driven leadership, we helped the Foundation secure a CEO capable of driving both vision and measurable impact.

With Lisa now at the helm, the Richard Whitehead Foundation is well positioned to continue inspiring change, breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for individuals with disabilities across the UK and beyond.