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trusted Executive Search and Senior Leadership Recruitment for the Membership Sector

We deliver executive search and senior leadership recruitment exclusively for the membership sector - trusted by boards and leadership teams to appoint individuals who understand purpose, influence, and member value.

Every search is tailored, discreet and grounded in real sector insight, shaped by over a decade of experience

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we work with the Membership sector only

We work solely with membership organisations, meaning we have a deep understanding of our sectors' niche succession challenges.
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Extensive network & expertise

We’ve built a trusted network of senior leaders across the membership sector, enabling us to find the right fit quickly and with confidence.

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membership leaders guarantee

We’re confident in the quality of every appointment we make. If your senior leader isn’t the right fit, we offer a free replacement within two years.
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I was very impressed with the shortlist of candidates provided by Membership Bespoke. The organisation was highly responsive and supportive providing answers to any questions we should ask.

The board were impressed with the breadth of the search undertaken, underpinned by their deep knowledge of the membership sector. It put our minds at ease knowing that Membership Bespoke guarantees their Executive Search placements.

Helen Haddow

Outgoing CEO - Houlden

Trusted to deliver top senior talent by organisations including:

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6 steps to success with our Executive Search solution

Defining Requirements

At this stage, we conduct a thorough assessment of your requirements, the role specifications, and your organisation’s culture. We establish the ideal candidate profile, identifying the essential skills, experience, and attributes required for success.

Market Research and Sourcing

At this stage, we draw on our extensive membership-focused database and networks of senior leaders and executives. We also carry out detailed market research to find potential candidates in your industry and similar membership organisations. This approach helps us identify both active job seekers and talented professionals who may not be looking but have the right skills and experience.

Candidate Evaluation

At this stage, we carefully review each candidate using in-depth interviews, assessments (including psychometric and behavioural tests if needed), and reference checks. We look beyond qualifications and experience, focusing on leadership, cultural fit, and potential to grow with your membership organisation.

Shortlisting and Presentation

We share a shortlist of the top  candidates with you, along with clear, detailed reports on each individual. You’ll receive all the background, qualifications, and assessment results you need to make the right choice.

Interviews and Selection

We support you throughout the entire interview process, offering effective questions to help you get the most from each conversation. We also assist with candidate feedback and interview preparation. Once interviews are complete, you can confidently move forward with making offers.

Offer Negotiations and Onboarding

We’re here to support you with offer negotiations and will guide you through the onboarding process. We help your new senior appointment settle in, get to know your organisation’s culture, and build important relationships from day one.

a snapshot of some of our senior-level placements

  • Chief Executive -  The Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances
  • Chief Executive - National Tyre Distributors Association
  • Executive Director - Mensa UK
  • Chief Executive Officer - Construction Equipment Association
  • Chief Executive Officer - Freelancer & Contractor Services Association
  • Commercial Director - British Dental Industry Association
  • Chief Executive Officer - Houlden Jewellers
  • Managing Director - Gift Card & Voucher Association
  • Chief Financial Officer - Chartered Institute of Taxation
  • Chief Executive - The Guild of Architectural Ironmongers
  • Chief Operating Officer - UK200 Group
  • Director of Membership - Chartered College of Teaching
  • Managing Director - Tech Partnership Degrees techUK
  • Business Development Director - The Institute of Chartered Foresters
  • Trade Association Director for Build UK
  • Commercial Director - The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland
  • Policy Director - The International Corporate Governance Network
  • Director of Corporate Engagement - Chartered Quality Institute
  • Interim Director of Membership - Association of Charitable Foundations 
  • Head of the Broadband Stakeholder Group - techUK
  • Director of Education and Learning - The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland
  • Membership and Commercial Director - British Veterinary Association
  • Director of Membership, Marketing Engagement - Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in the UK
  • Director of Trust Governance - The Confederation of School Trusts
  • Director, Member Relations - UK Finance
  • Chief Executive - Institute of Licensing
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Meet your Senior Leadership Search Expert

With over 18 years in recruitment and a deep understanding of the membership sector, Tamandra leads our executive and senior-level hiring. She partners closely with boards and leadership teams to appoint individuals who bring strategic clarity, cultural fit and long-term impact.

Her approach is personal, thoughtful and shaped by deep knowledge of what makes leadership work in membership organisations.

Proven Success in Senior Appointments - read our case studies

We’ve supported membership organisations across the UK to appoint senior leaders who’ve driven transformation, growth and long-term impact. Explore some of our recent executive search projects in the case studies below.

 

Securing a Commercial Director for the British Dental Industry Association (BDIA)

Securing a Commercial Director for the British Dental Industry Association (BDIA)

The British Dental Industry Association turned to us to find a Commercial Director with the perfect blend of commercial...

Read on…
Finding the right CEO for Houlden Jewellers

Finding the right CEO for Houlden Jewellers

Houlden Jewellers, an esteemed consortium of jewellers in the UK and Ireland, enlisted our Executive Search services and...

Read on…
Successful CEO appointment for the Construction Equipment Association

Successful CEO appointment for the Construction Equipment Association

The Construction Equipment Association (CEA) required a new Chief Executive Officer to lead them forward in their strategies...

Read on…
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The position of Commercial Director is vital to our organisation’s leadership, playing a key role in our ongoing development. After an initial attempt to fill this important role proved unsuccessful, we turned to Membership Bespoke for their expert help. Their deep understanding of our specific needs and thoughtful approach resulted in an excellent appointment that has already begun driving meaningful progress for the BDIA.

 

Edmund Proffitt

Chief Executive - British Dental Industry Association

Request a call back

If you're considering a senior hire, share your details below and we’ll be in touch to discuss how we can support your search - confidentially and without obligation.

I think if other membership associations are looking for a recruitment agency, I would highly recommend Membership Bespoke. The service they provide, they listen to us, they take on board our feedback, they tweak the candidates we get through. And they now get us. So we continue to work with them as a partner, and they are providing us every time we have a vacancy with quality candidates first time.

Julian Davis

Chief Operating Officer - WorldCC: World Commerce & Contracting

Membership Bespoke did an excellent job. The talent identified was very strong, which meant we were selecting from a pool of strong candidates. They were easy to work with and the speed of communication and keeping in touch throughout the process meant that we were able to secure the talented people we needed, while working against a very competitive backdrop. They needed to pull upon their experience of the membership sector and use their expertise to search other sectors to find us the team we required to get up and running quickly to provide the services needed by the membership at a challenging time.

Andrew Heffernan

Head of Member Services - R3

The position of Commercial Director is vital to our organisation’s leadership, playing a key role in our ongoing development. After an initial attempt to fill this important role proved unsuccessful, we turned to Membership Bespoke for their expert help. Their deep understanding of our specific needs and thoughtful approach resulted in an excellent appointment that has already begun driving meaningful progress for the BDIA.

Edmund Proffitt

Chief Executive - British Dental Industry Association

TAF has a long-standing and hugely valuable relationship with Membership Bespoke, providing our members with insight and advice based on their years of experience as the leading membership recruiter in the UK. Their expertise in the membership employment market is second-to-none.

Emily Wallace

CEO - Trade Association Forum

Membership Bespoke supported our institution in recruiting a new role in a difficult market within a tight time frame. They rapidly delivered against the brief and were on hand at all times to support the process with quick turnaround times. We had a great experience working with the team and a successful recruitment process.

Membership Director -

Leading Chartered Professional Body

I reached out to Daniel at Membership Bespoke after an extended and unsuccessful period of trying to fill a Senior Marketing position. Daniel quickly got to grips with the nature of the role and skills we were looking for but also took time to understand the culture of our organisation. He very quickly identified a strong shortlist of candidates who were appointable.  We have since used the team at Membership Bespoke for a finance role and again were delighted with the calibre of candidates put forward. 

Clare Bello

CEO - Cornerstone Barristers

Membership Bespoke ran an excellent and efficient recruitment campaign for two executive posts in our marketing team. They understood quickly how the membership ethos translates into the barrister chambers environment, adapted their longlists to our feedback, and put forward some strong and straightforwardly appointable candidates.

Mark Ballinger

Head of Communications and Marketing - Twenty Essex

We found ourselves in need of a new Trade Policy and Committees Manager as our current person was approaching retirement. It was essential to identify an individual with significant experience in overseeing committees and an in-depth knowledge of the food industry. We sought assistance from Membership Bespoke, given their thorough expertise of the membership sector. Their ability to grasp our requirements was exceptional, and they presented us with an impressive selection of talent. Ultimately, we shortlisted two remarkable candidates, making the final choice rather difficult, but we are satisfied with our decision!

Rod Addy

Director General - Provision Trade Federation

I think if other membership associations are looking for a recruitment agency, I would highly recommend Membership Bespoke. The service they provide, they listen to us, they take on board our feedback, they tweak the candidates we get through. And they now get us. So we continue to work with them as a partner, and they are providing us every time we have a vacancy with quality candidates first time.

Julian Davis

Chief Operating Officer - WorldCC: World Commerce & Contracting