Public Leaders Appointments

What Public Leaders Appointments does

Public Leaders Appointments (PLA) is a values-led boutique executive search firm founded in 2017 by Anna Jay and headquartered in Newquay, Cornwall, United Kingdom. The firm provides retained executive search and selection, interim management and consulting, advisory and coaching, psychometric assessment, and inclusive recruitment services, primarily at board and executive level, to third sector, public sector, and public/private interface organizations. A dedicated Professional Services division (PLA Professional Services) extends the firm's scope into legal, accountancy, insurance, and shared service provider clients, while add-on offerings such as Trustee Development Training and speaking engagements at institutions including Oxford University provide adjacent revenue and brand-building channels.

PLA operates on a project-based professional services revenue model: retained executive search engagements structured around individual mandates, with fees not publicly disclosed but inferred to be a percentage of first-year compensation typical of the UK boutique search market. Interim management placements, advisory and coaching engagements, psychometric assessments, and trustee training courses each represent distinct revenue streams layered on top of the core search business. The firm's go-to-market is sales-led and consultative, driven primarily by Anna Jay's two-decade network and personal brand, supplemented by thought leadership on LinkedIn, podcast appearances, conference speaking, and ambassador roles across sector bodies including the RSA, NCVO, and the Young Trustees Movement. Customers include the Eden Project, Spinal Injuries Association UK, Astrea Academy Trust, Buckles Solicitors, DELT Shared Services, Cornwall Housing, Falmouth Harbour, Trebah Garden, World Habitat, and Livewell Southwest.

The firm is founder-owned, privately held, and bootstrapped, with no external funding, parent company, or institutional investors. Operating with a team of 1–10 employees, PLA is positioned as a high-touch boutique alternative to volume-based recruitment, with a stated commitment to inclusive, values-aligned appointments and a strategic emphasis on long-term client relationships rather than transactional placements.

Name

Public Leaders Appointments

Legal name

Public Leaders Appointments Ltd

Website

https://publicleadersappointments.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Public Leaders Appointments is a UK-based boutique executive search firm providing retained search, interim management, advisory, and trustee training services at board and executive level to charities, public sector bodies, and professional services firms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search and Recruitment Services

NAICS

Executive Search Services (561312), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Sector, Education & Nonprofit Leadership Search (BPACAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Executive & Leadership Direct Hire (BPACAFAB), Thought Leadership & Executive Visibility (BPAFADAG)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Board recruitment
• Interim management
• Trustee appointments
• Public sector consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Newquay

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Executive Search & Selection: Retained executive search services for recruiting Chief Executives, senior leaders, Chairs, Non-Executive Directors, and Trustees at executive and board level. Tailored, inclusive recruitment processes ensure broad, diverse reach for exceptional candidates.
2. Interim Management & Consulting: Fast, agile, and flexible talent solutions for short to medium-term requirements. Sources interim managers or consultants to lead change, deliver transformation, or drive improvement from day one.
3. Advisory & Coaching Services: Coaching and advisory services for individuals, teams and boards. Trustee Development courses equip participants with tools, knowledge and confidence for effective Board contribution.
4. Speaking Engagements: Anna Jay provides speaking services at major institutions and events including Oxford University, PKF Francis Clark's Annual Charity Conference, and Great British Family Business Conference.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Public Leaders Appointments is a values-led boutique executive search firm providing executive recruitment, interim management, and consultancy solutions at executive and board level across public, third, and commercial sectors. The firm identifies and places Chairs, Non-Executive Directors, Trustees, Chief Executives, Executive Directors, and Senior Managers through bespoke, inclusive recruitment processes. Complementary offerings include advisory and coaching, psychometric assessment, trustee development training, and speaking engagements.

Product overview

Public Leaders Appointments is a values-led boutique executive search firm operating as a single integrated service portfolio rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The core offerings include Executive Search & Selection, Interim Management & Consulting, Advisory & Coaching, Psychometric Assessment, and Inclusive Recruitment, all delivered through a bespoke, values-driven approach. The Professional Services Division (PLA) is a dedicated sub-brand serving professional services firms with tailored search and assessment solutions. Trustee Development Training courses and Speaking Engagements are add-on offerings that extend the core recruitment service. Together these offerings provide end-to-end talent solutions from executive placement through to board development and professional growth.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Executive Search & Selection Bespoke retained executive recruitment service identifying and placing Chairs, Non-Executive Directors, Trustees, Chief Executives, Executive Directors, and senior leaders at board and executive level for public, third, and commercial sector clients using inclusive recruitment processes.
• Interim Management & Consulting Fast, agile, and flexible talent solutions providing interim managers or consultants for short to medium-term requirements, leading change, delivering transformation, or driving improvement from day one.
• Advisory & Coaching Coaching and advisory services for individuals, teams and boards, including executive coaching, leadership development, board skills analysis, governance reviews, and EDI consultancy.
• PLA Professional Services The commercial arm of Public Leaders Appointments providing bespoke search, interim management, board review, and psychometric profiling specifically for professional services firms including legal, accountancy, and shared service providers.
• Trustee Development Training Online and in-person training courses equipping new and experienced Trustees with tools, knowledge and confidence for effective board contribution, covering charity governance, board effectiveness, and related topics.
• Speaking Engagements Speaking engagements by Managing Director Anna Jay at major institutions and events including Oxford University's Making a Difference Programme, PKF Francis Clark's Annual Charity Conference, and the Great British Family Business Conference on leadership, governance, and the modern workplace.
• Candidate Application Services Work-finding services for prospective candidates including candidate registration, job opportunity matching, psychometric testing coordination, background checks, and ongoing career placement support via the firm's opportunities portal.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trusted by many clients for over a decade
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RSA (Royal Society of Arts)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLA is proud to be ambassadors of RSA. Anna Jay was appointed as a Fellow of the RSA in recognition of her contributions to the charitable sector. The partnership involves shared commitment to social change and leadership development.
• Young Trustees MovementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLA is an ambassador and member of the Young Trustees Movement, supporting efforts to diversify boards and encourage younger people into trusteeship roles.
• NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLA is an ambassador, associate and member of NCVO, supporting the voluntary sector ecosystem and staying connected to sector developments and best practices.
• Mental Health at WorkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLA is an associate/member of Mental Health at Work, reflecting commitment to workplace wellbeing and creating equitable, inclusive organisations.
• Talent Praxis GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLA partners with Talent Praxis Group as part of their ecosystem of progressive organisations supporting leadership and talent development.
• Cornwall Women's FundcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnna Jay is a founder member of Cornwall Women's Fund, demonstrating commitment to gender equality and supporting women in leadership.
• NCWGB (National Council of Women of Great Britain)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLA is an associate/member of NCWGB, connecting with broader women's leadership and equality initiatives.
• EDI Experts NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPLA works with EDI (Equality, Diversity & Inclusion) experts who facilitate courageous conversations and encourage actions that create more inclusive and equitable organisations and boards.
• PKF Francis ClarkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPKF Francis Clark hosts Trustee Development courses delivered by PLA at their Plymouth offices, supporting charity governance education.
• Dynamic BoardsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPLA recommends Dynamic Boards as a platform for broadening access to board opportunities and supporting aspiring and experienced non-executive directors.
• Your PartnershipsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPLA participated in a podcast with Your Partnerships, contributing to thought leadership in the recruitment and leadership space.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Trustees Unlimited: Specialist UK trustee recruitment service focused on the charity and not-for-profit sector. Direct overlap with PLA's trustee and NED recruitment offering for third-sector boards.
• Inclusive Boards: UK diversity-focused board and executive search firm specialising in placing under-represented candidates into chair, NED, and trustee roles. Highly comparable mission and inclusive recruitment positioning to PLA.
• Green Park: Boutique UK executive search firm with a dedicated public and third-sector practice. Directly comparable in delivering executive and board-level appointments across charities, housing, and public bodies.
• Saxton Bampfylde: UK executive search firm with strong charity, education, and public-sector practice. Comparable in placing chief executives, chairs, and NEDs across mission-driven organisations.
• Veredus: UK executive search and interim management firm where PLA's founder previously led public/third-sector mandates. Directly comparable in retained executive search and interim management offerings.
• Tile Hill: UK executive search firm focused on the charity, social enterprise, and education sectors. Closely comparable niche positioning and candidate pools for third-sector CEO and chair appointments.
• Peridot Partners: UK executive search firm specialising in education, charity, and public-sector leadership appointments. Closely comparable niche focus on values-aligned, mission-driven board and executive recruitment.
• Berwick Partners: UK public-sector executive search firm (now part of Odgers Berndtson), where PLA's founder previously led senior appointments. Direct functional overlap in retained public-sector and third-sector executive search.

Broad incumbents

• Norman Broadbent: UK-listed executive search and leadership advisory firm with practices covering public sector and professional services. Comparable at the executive search and board advisory level, though broader in scope than PLA.
• Odgers Berndtson: Global executive search firm where PLA founder Anna Jay previously led public/third-sector mandates via Berwick Partners (an Odgers Berndtson brand). Directly comparable in retained executive search for senior public-sector roles.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/publicleadersappointments
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/public-leaders-appointments

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Public Leaders Appointments