Case Studies

About Chapter Zero
Chapter Zero aims to build a community of non-executive directors and equip them to lead crucial UK boardroom discussions on the impacts of climate change. Its members are helping ensure their companies are fit for the future and that global net zero ambitions are transformed into robust plans and measurable action.

Brief
Vicky Moffatt became Chapter Zero’s first Chief Executive in September 2022. To maximise her effectiveness in her new role, she knew she would need the support of an executive assistant.

An executive assistant would be able to take on all the administrative elements of Vicky’s role and support the wider board by ensuring that robust processes supported their work. By doing this, Vicky and the other Board members would be able to devote all their energies to the organisation’s mission of driving impact on climate change and accelerating the net-zero economy.

To support the search for the right person, Vicky and Chapter Zero turned to Sandy Hearn, Managing Director of Executive PA Solutions.

Sandy came to Chapter Zero via personal recommendation, having worked for many years with another board member, Susan Hooper.

Vicky recognised Sandy would bring two vital benefits to the search.

The first was her experience. As an executive assistant herself and as someone who employs executive assistants, she would be able to provide first-hand insight into the candidates’ abilities and qualities.

The second was the economics. Chapter Zero is philanthropically-funded, so has a responsibility to assess every commercial arrangement. Working with Executive PA Solutions would deliver better value for money than working with a recruitment agency.

Vicky said: “One of the main traits that was most important to Chapter Zero when searching for the right candidate was authenticity. Obviously other factors are important, such as professionalism, eagerness, organisational skills and excellent communication, but for our smaller team, finding someone you feel you can trust is key. Working with Sandy, through a trusted recommendation from one of our Board members and knowing she had previous experience in a similar role, was very important.”

Approach
Sandy started by working with Vicky and Tony Bainbridge, an external change consultant working with Chapter Zero. Together, they drew up a person specification for the executive assistant role as well as the robust selection process they would undertake to find the right person.

The ideal candidate would have exceptional people management skills and the ability to think one step ahead. It was clear it would be an exceptionally demanding role, but also that very few organisations offer the opportunity to make a real difference for today’s generation and future generations too.

Tony commented: “Sandy was vital in helping us to articulate the requirements of the role. She also helped us define the personal characteristics and traits the right person would need so they could form a strong and impactful partnership with Vicky.”

The role was posted on Chapter Zero’s LinkedIn page and Sandy also shared it with her network. Reflecting the appeal of the role on offer, over 50 people applied.

Tony drew up an initial shortlist of 20 individuals who seemed most suitable for the role. Sandy conducted phone interviews with each of the 20, after which the shortlist was reduced to 10 who had an online interview with Vicky, Tony and Sandy. The three strongest candidates were invited for a face-to-face interview with Vicky.

At each stage of the process, Vicky, Tony and Sandy reviewed the shortlisted applicants and made joint decisions about who to progress to the next stage. This took place in formal, scheduled online meetings and via email. WhatsApp was also used to share feedback. This protected the confidentiality of applicants because Sandy recognised that the appointed candidate would have access to Vicky’s email account in their role, so would be able to see conversations that happened during the selection process.

Tony said: “Sandy’s support was everything we needed and more. She brought intelligent insight into the qualities that make a top-quality executive assistant stand out. She worked at pace and to the tightest of deadlines. Perhaps most importantly, she understood how important it was to Chapter Zero’s reputation that every applicant was treated impeccably and received the right impression of the organisation no matter how far they got in the selection process.”

Results
One candidate stood out in the final interview process and, happily, they accepted the role. They have now taken up their post at Chapter Zero and their support is proving invaluable to Vicky and the Board.

Vicky concluded: “I really appreciated the high level of attention provided during the screening process. Sandy’s unique personal approach and clear values are the bedrock of her service, making the process incredibly smooth and efficient.

We deliver an executive-level PA Service to time-precious entrepreneurs, business leaders and executives at the very top of their game who understand the value of delegating tasks to the right people.

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