About the Role
We are supporting a well-established, privately-owned hospitality business to appoint a Non-Executive Director. The company operates multiple sites across the UK and is preparing for a transition in both leadership and ownership over the next 12 to 24 months.
The founder is stepping back from day-to-day involvement. A full or partial exit is under consideration, subject to board readiness, market timing, and internal leadership strength. The board is being formalised to support this transition with calm governance, clear oversight, and thoughtful stewardship.
This is a working board role, not a symbolic appointment. You will support the CEO and senior team, contribute to strategic and operational planning, and guide the board through matters of succession, organisational maturity, and ownership change.
Board meetings are held quarterly, with informal involvement as needed between meetings. The role is remunerated.
Requirements
We are looking for a Non-Executive Director who brings sector knowledge, governance experience, and the judgement to support a founder-led business through planned change.
You will be expected to:
* Strengthen board governance, strategic oversight, and decision-making
* Act as a sounding board to the CEO and leadership team
* Bring hospitality or consumer-facing operational insight
* Support financial planning, leadership development, and cultural continuity
* Help assess timing and readiness for ownership transition
* Offer an independent voice with commercial empathy and discretion
You will likely have:
* Board-level or senior operational experience in hospitality, leisure, or consumer sectors
* Familiarity with founder-led businesses and leadership succession
* Experience in regional or national growth environments
* A balanced view of governance that protects continuity while enabling change
* Personal values aligned with long-term stewardship, integrity, and fair leadership
This is a role for someone who understands that effective governance is relational as well as structural. You will bring clarity without noise, and influence without ego.
About the Organisation
The company is a respected multi-site hospitality business with a strong reputation for quality, service, and internal culture. It has grown steadily over the last decade, with a loyal customer base, high staff retention, and consistent profitability.
The founder has played a central role since inception. With a managing director now in place and a capable senior team in post, the business is ready to separate ownership from operations and move towards a more formal governance model.
There is no appetite for fast change or outside disruption. The board is looking for experience, good judgement, and a steady hand. This is an opportunity to support an orderly leadership transition, contribute to board development, and guide the company through a pivotal chapter with care.