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The CEO’s Role in Board Recruitment

The CEO should play a very active role in board recruitment.

The CEO should devote a significant amount of time to working with the Governance Committee to identify and screen potential candidates. In addition, no candidate should ever be nominated to the board who has not spent substantive time with the CEO and visited the school.

The level of involvement can vary depending on the organization's governance structure and specific circumstances. Here are some advantages a CEO can offer in recruiting new board members:

  • Strategic alignment:
    The CEO has a deep understanding of the organization's strategy and can identify candidates with the necessary expertise and experience to support that vision. 
  • Cultural fit:
    The CEO can ensure new board members fit well with the organization's culture and values. 
  • Candidate identification:
    Leveraging their network, the CEO can identify potential board members who would have relevant skills (education, finance, fundraising, etc.) needed on the board and beneficial connections within their respective industries. 
  • Effective onboarding:
    The CEO can actively participate in integrating new board members and ensuring they quickly understand the organization's operations and challenges. 
  • Open communication:
    Direct involvement in the recruitment process fosters better communication between the board and the executive team. 
However, it's important to note that while the CEO should be involved, the board nomination process should still be led by a designated committee to maintain independence and avoid the perception of undue influence. 

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