Gamekeepers turned Poachers

I have noticed a pattern recently of people becoming the CEO of the charity they have been serving as a Trustee of. This has been particularly the case in the hospice sector. 

In some cases, I know this has happened after an organisational crisis of some kind. Perhaps it has been tempting to appoint someone who the fellow Trustees know and trust?

Assuming they were appointed following an open, transparent process involving independent people in making the decision, then I don’t necessarily see a problem with this.

But I can imagine that it can be a challenge to make this move. 

You have to build a different kind of relationship with people who were, until recently, your fellow Trustees. 

Perhaps becoming CEO makes you realise how little – or how much? – you really knew about the organisation before? 

And do you begin to see the interface between the senior team and the Board in a different way?

I’d be interested to hear from anyone who has made this move from gamekeeper to poacher?