Sellick Partnership was engaged to manage the executive appointment of a Director of Customer and Digital Services. Leading a digital department of over 100 employees, this role provides strategic leadership for the council’s digital, data, IT, and customer services functions, ensuring technology and customer strategies support efficient services and improved outcomes for residents. The postholder is the council’s Chief Information Officer (CIO) and ensures that the Executive Directors and Chief Executive are well supported and able to discharge their statutory responsibilities fully.
Greg Jones, Group Director, led this campaign. With over 20 years' experience, Greg specialises in Digital recruitment, leading our Digital recruitment team nationwide, specialising in senior and executive appointments.
Greg met with senior stakeholders to gain a clear understanding of the Director of Customer and Digital Services brief, the organisational priorities, and the leadership profile required. These discussions informed the campaign messaging and overall search approach, ensuring the role and organisation were positioned effectively to senior candidates in the market.
A targeted executive search campaign was then launched with a focus on passive candidate generation. Over a four-week period, Greg undertook detailed market research to identify suitable senior leaders across local government and related sectors, mapping Directors responsible for customer services, digital transformation, and organisational change. This mapping exercise supported a proactive headhunting campaign, with personalised outreach to both active and passive candidates to build a strong and diverse longlist.
Sellick Partnership managed the initial screening process, conducting in-depth conversations with prospective candidates to assess leadership capability, sector experience, and alignment with the organisation’s objectives. Following this, we prepared detailed candidate summaries and facilitated longlist and shortlist discussions with the client, ensuring clear feedback and agreement at each stage. The process concluded with final interviews, with Sellick Partnership supporting scheduling, candidate briefing, and stakeholder coordination throughout.
Following interview, we managed offer and acceptance, with the successful candidate generated via headhunting activity.
"I approached Sellick Partnership to support the recruitment of a Director of Customer and Digital Services, a role the Council had attempted to fill on several previous occasions without success. We were confident that we were offering a competitive salary, supported by a flexible working arrangement designed to attract a wider field of candidates, including those based in London. Nonetheless, given our earlier experience, my expectations for generating a strong shortlist were modest.
However, within just a few days, the Sellick Partnership team had identified several high‑calibre candidates. We held constructive discussions regarding the strengths and gaps within the initial field, and this feedback informed an even more targeted and refined search.
As a result, within two weeks Sellick Partnership had presented two excellent and motivated candidates who exceeded our requirements, enabling us to make a successful appointment.
Throughout the entire process, the Sellick team demonstrated professionalism, efficiency, clear communication and genuine commitment to achieving a positive outcome. I would highly recommend Sellick Partnership and will not hesitate to engage them again for future recruitment needs within my team."
Executive Director of Finance and Resources
