8 Non-Executive Directors
The Roles:
ACH: Refugee and migrant support services
The Client:
ACH is a social enterprise dedicated to building a better future for refugees and migrants in the UK. They are a leading provider of integration and resettlement services, enabling individuals to lead independent and ambitious lives. ACH operates in Bristol and the Midlands, offering secure accommodation and tailored support programs. We helped identify and recruit talented Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) who could advance their mission.
The organisation’s in-house training provider, Himilo, delivers vocational training courses, career advice, business support and employment opportunities to tenants and the wider community. These services provide refugees and migrants with the tools they need to succeed and help tackle the inequalities entrenched in our society.
Vanessa Moon, Moon’s Founding Director, oversaw the search campaign, which included regional advertising and targeted headhunting. We were taken aback by the sheer volume and enthusiasm of responses, a testament to ACH’s impactful work and value within communities. People wanted to support the organisation even after the campaign ended, offering their time and services free of charge.
We tailored our selection process to the role's unique requirements, helping identify the candidates who could provide the greatest impact at ACH. This produced a diverse pool of talented candidates from across the Midlands and the South West. Vanessa interviewed each individual in this group, assessing their suitability for ACH and how they could contribute towards its mission. The top candidates proceeded to the final shortlist, which was presented to ACH alongside a comprehensive report on each individual. The senior leadership at ACH was so impressed by the proposed candidates, they decided to appoint 8 NEDs instead of the initial 4.
The placed candidates were Nathan Anscombe, Patty Miranda, Sally Higham, Prask Sutton, Amitoj Singh, Jehangir Malik, Mika Abdulleyeva, and Helen Pennack. This diverse group possesses many specialisms, including strategic governance, social housing, growth and investment, law and policy, global health, human rights, digital innovation, operational efficiency, and customer experience. The wide-ranging skills of these NEDs empower ACH to effectively manage its growing service portfolio, ultimately building a better future for migrants and refugees in the UK.
Fuad Muhamed, CEO at ACH, commented:
“Vanessa and her team discovered skilled candidates across various areas of expertise. We were impressed by their reach and breadth of search, across not only Bristol but the Midlands too!”
Vanessa Moon commented:
“There was so much community goodwill towards ACH and their work, which made this campaign thoroughly enjoyable. The volume of responses we received was remarkable, with so many people eager to contribute towards ACH’s mission.”
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During a period of rapid growth, ACH expanded its operations from Bristol to Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton. While this enabled the organisation to assist more people, it also presented challenges. The organisation wanted to strengthen their Board to enhance both capacity and capability. We’ve worked with ACH previously, placing both their Training and Operations Managers. Based on the positive impact of those placed candidates, they sought our assistance in the search for four Non-Executive Directors.
ACH aimed to broaden and diversify the Board’s expertise. They were seeking candidates skilled in IT transformation, social housing management, organisational operations, business growth or customer services. Candidates also needed to demonstrate an understanding of refugee lived experience and have a proven ability to influence decision-making.
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