Executive Search & Board Appointments Expert

Kai Adams is a UK executive search consultant and headhunter specialising in senior executive and board appointments across charities, voluntary and non-profit organisations, civil society, government and public services.

As Managing Partner at Green Park, Kai works with Chairs, Boards, and Chief Executives to recruit CEOs, C-suite, and Executive Directors as well as Chairs, Trustees, and Non-Executive Directors. His work spans charities and foundations, central government, arm’s-length bodies and regulators, health and social care, housing, education, arts and culture, impact economy, and membership organisations.

20+ Years Shaping Executive Leadership

Kai has worked in executive search for more than 20 years. He joined Green Park in 2011, founded its Charities & Social Enterprise practice in 2012, and became Managing Partner in 2020. He has particular expertise in CEO succession, Chair and Board renewal, newly created leadership roles, organisational transformation and turnaround, and searches designed to bring talent across sector boundaries or beyond familiar networks.

Holding an MSc in Occupational Psychology, Kai combines executive search with a strong interest in leadership assessment, judgement, and organisational context. He looks beyond whether someone has done a similar job before to understand how they lead, how they make decisions, and whether they can succeed in the environment they are joining.

Kai has worked with ACEVO on its practical guide to recruiting Chairs, Trustees and Chief Executives, sat on the Steering Group for the Bayes Business School Centre for Charity Effectiveness research into the Future Charity Chair, and is on the Nominations Committee for the Charity Finance Group (CFG). He writes and speaks regularly about executive recruitment, governance, succession, board appointments, leadership assessment, and intentionally inclusive search.

His style is straightforward and pragmatic. He will challenge assumptions, test what is genuinely essential in a brief, and help clients distinguish between the experience they need and the experience that simply feels familiar.

Kai is particularly interested in organisations going through change and in building leadership teams and Boards that combine the right experience, judgement, and perspective.

20years

of diverse talent mapping

55+

countries

56%

Female Trustee Placements

34%

Ethnic Minority Trustee Placements

Testimonials

"My experience with Green Park can be summed up in three words; advocacy, integrity, transparency. In working with Jo Sweetland and her team, it was clear from the start that they went well beyond the skills needed for the role. Their exceptional support and thoughtful, intentional guidance throughout the journey, from initial interest to formal offer, set them apart."

Justin Ostrander

Director of Finance, USA at ISP

"Working with Paul Bullock starts off with a heavy interview, where he basically gains as much insight into your business as possible so he not only selects the correct group of people to interview, but also sells your business to make sure all parties understand the opportunities. Every time I work with Paul he has delivered." 

Jalil Rahman

Chief Commercial Officer, Orla Kiely

“Jo Sweetland and her team at Green Park were fantastic during the search and interview process. They provided excellent communication with deep attentiveness and walked me through the process providing keen insights along the way. I felt very supported to ensure a smooth, seamless and professional experience with Jo.” 

Zenia Minwalla

Regional Head of Property @International Schools Partnerships Ltd, USA

From start to finish, Juliet Hardingham and the Executive Search Team at Green Park were exceptional. Juliet took the time to understand the role and our organisation, delivering a strong, diverse shortlist for our Head of Government Relations and External Affairs. Her professionalism, insights, and clear communication confirmed we had chosen the right partner.

James Greenhill

Head of Global Executive Resourcing @Jacobs

David Sayers and the Private & Commercials team have for sure, been one of the best recruiting teams to work with throughout this process. The interviews were scheduled in quick succession, and I was kept in the loop throughout the hiring process. The feedback loop was smooth, and I never felt any hiccups in the process, despite there being an 8-hour time zone difference. Thank you for your support!

Uma Deepak

Senior Finance Business Partner @International Schools Partnership

We worked with Green Park to swiftly hire an interim Head of Operations. Simon Pickerell from the Executive Interim team was outstanding - he quickly understood our needs, delivered a strong and diverse shortlist over the festive period, and supported both us and the candidates throughout. Thanks to Simon, we’ve hired an experienced Head of Operations who’s a great cultural fit. Highly recommend Simon and Green Park.

Rhian Thompson

@Magic Breakfast

"Green Park's proposal had diversity at the heart, rather than just an add on - and this gave us confidence that in working with them we would be partnering with an organisation who held the same values as our own in this area."

Claire Burles

Group People Director | Stage Coach

"Jo Sweetland of Green Park is just the best. She absolutely IS Green Park. Hard working. Super smart and understands a client’s needs. Jo has deep market relationships and superb networks. She sets the benchmark for Search in the recruitment industry. I would never hesitate to recommend Jo Sweetland to anyone. A delight to work with BUT more importantly brings the best results."

Matthew Jeffery

Head of UKI Recruitment | EY

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