The CEO in Government: Leading Arms Length Bodies Well

January 19 2021

Arm’s Length Bodies play a pivotal role across all aspects of Northern Ireland’s society and public service delivery.  Critical to their success is the role of their leaders.

The Chief Executives’ Forum and NI Public Sector Chairs’ Forum are delighted to host this webinar which examines the first ever research into the capabilities and characteristics needed to thrive as the Chief Executive in an ALB.

Published in late 2020, this research sought to understand the skills and attributes that make successful ALB leaders.  It was carried out by the Association of Chief Executives (ACE) in the UK and consultancy Nous Group (Nous-Group-and-ACE-The-CEO-in-Government.pdf).

The report acknowledges that when CEOs fulfil their potential, public services are delivered more efficiently and effectively.

It aims to enable boards and government departments to recruit CEOs more effectively, and to set clearer objectives for their CEOs to help improve the quality of our public bodies.  The report seeks to support ALBs to plan succession more robustly, to broaden the talent pipeline and develop capable individuals to CEO level.

The report includes a competency framework for ALB CEOs, acknowledging the unique and distinct challenges faced by ALB leaders, which are additional to those faced by other leaders.

This webinar will feature a presentation from Peter Horne of Nous Group who led the research and will include contributions from Phil Golding, CEO at the Law Commission and Dr Samantha Milton, Head of the UK Public Defender Service, who identified the need to consider more fully the specific skill-set of an ALB CEO and sponsored the project on behalf of ACE.

It will also include input from senior NI leaders - within a sponsor department; an ALB Chair and an ALB CEO.