Bradford Cathedral sits at the spiritual and civic heart of one of the UK’s youngest and most diverse cities. It serves as a centre for worship, music and community engagement, bringing together over 1,400 years of Christian witness.
We were commissioned to recruit a Chief Operating Officer (COO), the senior lay leader responsible for working alongside the Dean and Chapter to translate the Cathedral’s vision into sustainable, well-governed operational practice. This role is pivotal for aligning people, resources and governance to enable the Cathedral’s mission; ‘to weave Jesus into the rich fabric of the city’ to flourish.
Context.
The recruitment took place during an important and hopeful moment in the Cathedral’s history. As the city of Bradford grew in confidence following its experience as the UK City of Culture 2025, the Cathedral sought to build on that momentum and strengthen the organisational foundations that sustain its ministry.
The post-holder faced the unique challenge of balancing the stewardship of an ancient, medieval heritage site with the operational requirements of a modern, forward-looking institution within a Cathedral which is focused on the city of Bradford, being one of three in the diocese of Leeds. With strategic goals centred on becoming more sustainable, visible and accessible, the Cathedral required a leader who could navigate financial constraints and complex lay/ordained dynamics to ensure long-term resilience.
Brief.
The client sought an outstanding senior leader who brought both professional credibility and the relational intelligence to work effectively in a mission-driven environment. Success looked like finding a candidate who could combine high-level strategic oversight with appropriate hands-on involvement. We were tasked with finding a leader who could:
- Directly line manage key functions including finance, fundraising and marketing.
- Act as a governance advisor regarding the Cathedrals Measure 2021 and charity law.
- Embody the city of Bradford, understanding the communities and audiences who make up the city and who see the cathedral as a point of cohesion.
We approached the search with a commitment to inclusivity and transparency, ensuring the process reflected the Cathedral’s values of Interculturality and Hospitality. This resulted in a robust field of 18 applicants from diverse professional backgrounds, including heritage, health and the wider charity sector.
Outcome.
The final three candidates included:
- A strategic leader with 25+ years of experience, including CEO roles at a child and family trust and voluntary action group. They specialised in financial turnaround and organisational stability, with significant expertise in governance, safeguarding and interfaith collaboration within Bradford. As a practicing Hindu, brough a values-led, inclusive approach and deep respect for the Cathedral’s spiritual mission.
- An accomplished Operations Director with 30 years of board-level experience. They brought direct, current experience in the cathedral sector, having provided interim COO support to another Cathedral. Their background included managing Tudor palaces and living history museums, as well as leading major retail integrations and reversing multi-million-pound deficits in the charity sector.
- A senior cultural leader with 25+ years of experience within organisations like the National Trust and the Science Museum Group. They specialised in built heritage experience development and leading transformational change to align audience relevance with conservation.
The search resulted in the appointment of a strategic leader with over 25 years of executive experience across the charity and public sectors. The appointee, a former CEO, brings a track record of financial turnaround, having moved organisations from significant deficits back to stability and surplus.
This placement introduces a leadership style focused on coaching and organisational excellence, supported by deep expertise in governance and interfaith partnership building within the Bradford community.
The new COO is expected to lead an evolution in the culture of the team and the community focus of the Cathedral, supporting how the Cathedral manages its Grade II listed estate and regulatory compliance, while ensuring that priorities are mission-aligned.
Their background in leading large-scale, multi-million-pound programmes provides the Cathedral with the strategic ‘horizon-scanning’ capability needed to navigate its next five-year vision.
David Hingley is Head of Arts, Heritage and Culture Appointments at Peridot Partners. Since 2010 he has worked with some of the UK’s most respected cultural organisations, placing senior leaders and advising boards on some of the most important appointments they will make.
