Finding modern leaders who create lasting change through purpose, inclusion and integrity.
James Hunt is a senior executive search specialist with over two decades of experience connecting exceptional leaders with purpose-driven organisations. As Head of Not for Profit Appointments at Peridot Partners, he has led 300 specialist, senior and board-level searches across the UK’s charity, membership and higher-education sectors.
His portfolio spans appointments for organisations as wide-ranging as the Chartered Insurance Institute, Stonewall, University of London, IOSH and Migrant Help. James is trusted for his insight, rigour and empathy when working with boards navigating complexity or transition.
Inclusive recruitment is central to his approach. As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, neurodivergent and an immigrant who has made the UK home, James draws on lived experience to embed fairness and belonging into every search. He is a Trustee and sits on two Committees of a large charity, and is a member of Peridot’s EDI, L&D and People Committees. He actively challenges assumptions, opens space for underrepresented voices and builds transparent, psychologically safe recruitment journeys.
James believes that great leadership is grounded in vulnerability, creativity and empathy. These values shape his work with candidates and clients alike, helping to build long-term relationships and leadership teams that reflect the societies they serve.
Talk to James about:
“We partnered with James at Peridot for a key recruitment to our senior leadership team, focusing on corporate planning and projects. James and the Peridot team are fantastic at understanding our needs and helped to guide us through the whole specification, search and hire journey. The resulting hire has been an absolute asset to IOSH, bringing experience and value in equal measure. I’m sure we would not have found such talent without Peridot. Thank you!”
Chief Executive Officer, IOSH
James’ areas of work:
Social Justice & INGOs
James’ clients work across the following areas: addiction, community development, criminal justice, disadvantaged, drug and alcohol, homelessness, human rights, intervention, LGBTQI+, mental health, prison reform, race equality, rehabilitation, restorative justice, think tanks, urban health, youth offending and more. We can support you with the appointment of chief executives, executive directors, directors, deputy directors, assistant directors, sector experts, heads, managers and senior officers.
Sample track record:
AllChild | Chief Delivery Officer and Regional Director
Clear Voice and Migrant Help | Chair of Clear Voice and Trustee of Migrant Help
Compassion in World Farming | Global Director of Campaigns and Policy Advocacy
Emmaus Cambridge | Chief Executive
Farm Africa | Programmes Director
Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) | Chief Operating Officer
Kaleidoscope Trust | Chief Executive Officer
King George & Queen’s Hospitals Charity | Interim CEO
Mental Health Matters (MHM) | Trustees and Director of Finance
Migrant Help | Chair and Trustee
PEAS (Promoting Equality in African Schools) | Director of Finance, and Director of Fundraising and Communications
Phoenix Futures | Chair and Trustees
Public Law Project (PLP) | Interim CEO
Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) | Chair, Treasurer, Director of Finance & Operations, Head of Fundraising and Head of Volunteering
Stonewall | Chief Executive, Director of Programmes and Income and Chief Operating Officer
Young Gamers & Gamblers Education Trust (Ygam) | Chair, Trustees, Chief Executive and Head of Corporate Partnerships
Membership
We can support you with the appointment of chief executives, executive directors, directors, deputy directors, assistant directors, sector experts, heads, managers and senior officers.
- Campaigns
- Commercial / Business development / Sales
- Communications
- Education
- Equality, diversity and inclusion
- Events
- Finance
- HR / People
- Information technology
- Marketing
- Membership
- Operations
- Partnerships
- Professional development
- Project management
- any many more
Sample track record:
Association of Mental Health Providers (AMHP) | Chair
British Society for Rheumatology | CEO
BPS Assessment (British Pharmacological Society) | Chair and NEDs
Chartered Institute of Building | Finance Director
Chartered Insurance Institute | Non-Executive Directors & Chairs of Audit and Risk Committee (ARC), Education and Learning Committee (ELC), Nomination and Remuneration Committee, multiple Committee Members
IAM RoadSmart | Head of Commercial and Head of Product Development
Inclusive Employers | Interim Membership Consultant
IOM3 (Institute of Materials, Minerals & Mining) | Director of Membership and Professional Standards
IOSH | CEO, Director of Corporate Planning and Projects, multiple board roles
London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) | Head of Partnerships
Science Council | CEO
The Bar Council | Commercial Director
The Institution of Structural Engineers | Chief Operating Officer, Head of Learning and Development and Head of HR
Advancement
We can support you with the appointment of directors, deputy directors, sector experts, heads, managers and senior officers.
Specialist areas we recruit to include:
- Advancement
- Alumni relations
- Corporate partnerships
- Data and insight
- Development
- Donor relations
- Events
- Gift Accounting / Administration
- Global development
- Legacy giving
- Major gifts
- Marketing and communications
- Principal gifts
- Prospect research
- Regular giving
- Supporter engagement
- Trusts and foundations
Sample track record:
Charterhouse | Associate Director, Major Gifts
Imperial College London | Over 20+ senior development positions
King’s College London | Senior development leadership team (multiple roles)
London Business School | 3x senior development and Major Gifts positions
London School of Economics and Political Science | 3x Corporate Engagement Manager and Head of Prospect Research
University of Exeter | Senior development leadership team (multiple roles)
University of Bath | Senior development leadership team (multiple roles)
University of Cambridge | Development (Major Gifts) and Alumni Head’s (x5)
University of London | Multiple senior development positions
University of Manchester | Senior Development Officer, Transformational Philanthropy
University of Oxford | Multiple senior development positions
“Throughout the process, communication was clear and timely, and we had complete confidence that James and Peridot would combine insight with genuine care. It was a pleasure working with them, and we were delighted to make a great appointment from a strong field. Peridot has become our regular recruitment partner for senior roles through your combination of insight, strong outreach, reliability (in a very good way), and simply being great to work with.”
Chair, Public Law Project - appointment of an Interim CEO
Read some of James' articles:
Recruitment and leadership advice
- Why vice chairs are becoming central to succession planning
- Why diverse shortlists don’t always lead to diverse appointments
- How to manage candidate experience in executive recruitment
- How to find the right interim leader for lasting impact
- How interim leadership helps non-profits navigate change
- How do interim leaders drive meaningful change?
- Strengthening social justice through inclusive recruitment
- Five important traits of a leader and the impact of good leadership
- AI and Recruitment: How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming Leadership Hiring
- How to hire for culture add, not just culture fit
- How to create a strong LinkedIn profile for charity job seekers
Membership blogs
- Why membership organisations benefit from independent board members
- How established membership organisations adapt to change
- How leaders approach strategy and purpose in membership organisations
- Rethinking membership organisation strategy
- Governing together: reflections on leadership in membership bodies
- Transformative Leadership in Membership Organisations: Embracing Change, Diversity and Agility
- What does leadership entail in contemporary membership organisations?
- Leading the Science Council to be a truly influential voice in the science community as Chief Executive
- Women in Leadership: Sarah Campbell, Chief Executive, British Society for Rheumatology (BSR)
- Women in Leadership: Cait Allen, CEO of the British Chiropractic Association
Advancement & education blogs
- Why executive search matters in higher education fundraising recruitment
- Ambitious advancement: opportunities for future growth
- An interview with Crys Whitewoods, Director of Giving at London Business School
- Searching for talent in a competitive higher education market
- Why executive search matters in higher education fundraising recruitment
Other blogs by James Hunt
“I had a fantastic experience working with James Hunt at Peridot for my NED role. From the outset, James was very professional, kind, and genuinely invested in understanding my skills and aspirations. His guidance throughout the process was invaluable, and he kept me well-informed at every stage. Thanks to his support, I felt confident and well-prepared.”
Appointed Trustee, Migrant Help
