Board Services
Building Better Boards
Guiding boards to leverage strengths, close development gaps and drive meaningful success.
We Are Hanover
Trusted advisors who empower your board to operate at full strength
We enhance board performance by equipping directors to lead with greater impact. Prioritising diverse perspectives, we create inclusive, high-performing boards that make transformative, future-focused decisions. Whether you want to refine board dynamics or recruit for pivotal roles, our expert team partners with you to bring out the best in your board.
Beyond governance, an effective board is defined by a culture of dynamic decision-making and collaboration. Together with City CV, the renowned career consultancy within the Hanover Group, we offer specialised board and NED coaching and comprehensive evaluations that align leadership with your organisation’s mission. Our pragmatic, multi-level approach—Build, Grow, Accelerate—brings fresh insights and actionable strategies to every stage of board development, ensuring long-term effectiveness.
Our Services
Board excellence & leadership search
Hanover and City CV’s Board Services go beyond assessments to address board composition, diversity and personal career growth. From impactful coaching and targeted evaluations to strategic director recruitment, we guide you through building a high-impact board that supports sustainable success.
Board Effectiveness
Our structured board reviews identify strengths and gaps, delivering clear recommendations to refine board dynamics and maximise decision-making effectiveness.
Board Director & Chair Search
We identify, engage and place directors with the expertise, strategic vision and cultural fit to elevate your board, ensuring it meets today’s diverse challenges.
Board & NED Coaching
City CV offers specialised coaching, CVs and personal branding for aspiring and established NEDs and board members, helping them refine their board skills, excel in the boardroom and expand their NED portfolio.
Empowering Boards
Addressing critical boardroom challenges
Our targeted approach identifies and addresses your board’s most pressing challenges, from enhancing strategic focus to strengthening decision-making and diversity.
Diversity
Creating a diverse and inclusive board creates strategic advantage. We help build boards that reflect varied perspectives, fostering innovation and broader insights. Our process ensures diversity across experience, thought and background. With City CV, we also offer NED workshops and programmes that upskill board members on aligning with DE&I initiative
Technology & Cybersecurity
As technology advances and cyber threats rise, boards need the right expertise to safeguard their organisations and seize digital opportunities. Hanover partners with boards to develop leaders who bring the necessary skills and insight. By placing the right talent in key roles, we empower confident, future-focused decisions that protect assets.
Leadership & Governance
Boards operate in dynamic and complex environments. We guide boards in refining leadership structures and decision-making practices, creating the conditions that allow directors to navigate challenges with agility, uphold effective governance and make effective decisions at pace.
ESG & Sustainability
Boards face growing pressure to align with Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards. We partner with boards to enhance effectiveness in ESG and sustainability. Our workshops integrate diversity and inclusion, aligning leadership with impactful, sustainable decision-making and growth that promotes sustainable practices and embeds ESG into the heart of board activities.
Stakeholder Relationships
Building strong, transparent relationships with diverse stakeholders is critical. Our team helps boards strengthen these connections, enhancing trust and ensuring group alignment. By adopting open communication and strategic engagement, boards can effectively meet and anticipate stakeholder needs.
Focussed Strategy
Boards often risk getting mired in operational details, losing sight of strategic goals. Our board experts ensure that your directors focus on high-level oversight, driving impactful decisions that align with long-term objectives and position the organisation for sustainable growth.
Effective Communication
Clear, efficient communication is essential for transforming a diverse group of independently-minded leaders into a cohesive, high-performing board. We streamline pre- and post-meeting processes, aligning objectives and clarifying roles so directors of all backgrounds and values can collaborate effectively and drive swift, unified decisions.
our process
Three levels of board review
Our adaptable, structured process delivers powerful insights with minimal disruption. We offer three levels of review, providing objective, independent reports that highlight key strengths, risk areas and actionable recommendations.
1
Build
We gather insights on board dynamics, efficiency and member perceptions through online surveys, one-to-one interviews, and board meeting observation. This foundational review provides a clear, actionable view of improvement areas.
2
Grow
In addition to the Build activities, we conduct a Leadership Profiling assessment for each board member. This provides personalised insights and feedback on individual impact, with a collective report to enhance overall board effectiveness.
3
Accelerate
Building on the first two levels, we perform a skills audit and observe additional board and sub-committee meetings. This thorough evaluation highlights strengths and areas to develop, fostering a high-impact, strategic board.
4
Ongoing Support
Following the review, our experts facilitate tailored workshops to strengthen board dynamics, improve communication and align leadership. This ongoing support helps embed changes for lasting impact.
Ready to Get Started?
Elevate your board’s performance
Empower your board to do more. Partner with Hanover for transformative insights, strategic alignment and impactful leadership solutions.
Testimonials
Trusted by leading organisations
Jamie Bellamy
Chief Executive - Sheffield Mutual Friendly Society“We’ve worked with Hanover on board effectiveness review and strategy sessions. Their team has always been willing to dig into the priorities of the exercise by speaking to various stakeholders and are able to retain a high-level focus. They clearly have the expertise to deliver excellent results and are very easy to work with.”
Learn more about how we helped Sheffield Mutual Friendly Society.
Enhancing Board Effectiveness
Keep your board operating at full strength
Unlock the full potential of your board with Hanover’s blueprint for effectiveness. Get an inside look into our process of aligning board dynamics, fostering high performance and helping members lead with purpose in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Learn More
Frequently Asked Questions
Discover more about Hanover’s board services and how our expert team can address your unique needs.
How do we know if our board needs an external evaluation right now?
An external evaluation can be invaluable if your board faces challenges like new member dynamics, evolving strategic priorities, or the need to meet heightened governance standards. Hanover’s initial consultation can quickly identify whether an assessment would add immediate value to your board.
How does Hanover’s board effectiveness evaluation stand out from other assessments?
Our approach is rooted in precision and practicality. Unlike generic evaluations, we offer a multi-tiered, customised process that provides strategic and operational insights. Our evaluation identifies areas for improvement and delivers actionable recommendations that are specifically aligned with your board’s unique dynamics and objectives.
What can our board expect to gain from Hanover’s external review?
Our external review delivers a fresh, unbiased perspective that uncovers blind spots often overlooked in internal reviews. By focussing on board dynamics and strategic alignment, we provide insights that strengthen board cohesion, improve strategic focus and enhance long-term performance.
How does the “Build, Grow, Accelerate” model add value over a single-stage assessment?
Our tiered approach is designed for sustained impact, allowing boards to progress from foundational improvements to more advanced, targeted growth. This model ensures your board develops essential dynamics in “Build,” deepens individual leadership insights in “Grow,” and achieves comprehensive alignment in “Accelerate.” Each stage is crafted to build upon the last, offering a tailored roadmap for ongoing board excellence.
Can Hanover’s services adapt to specific regulatory and ESG goals our board is prioritising?
Absolutely. We understand the growing significance of ESG and regulatory standards, and we tailor our evaluations to integrate these priorities into your board’s strategy and operations. We provide clear guidance on embedding these principles, helping your board meet compliance standards and lead with sustainable practices.
What role does Hanover play after the evaluation report is delivered?
Hanover’s commitment extends beyond the report. We work closely with your board to implement recommendations through facilitated workshops, leadership coaching and development programmes. Our ongoing support ensures that insights translate into meaningful, measurable changes in board performance.
What makes Hanover’s approach to director and chair search unique?
Our search process goes beyond simply filling a seat. We conduct an in-depth analysis of your board’s culture, strategic needs and future goals to ensure each candidate brings the right expertise while aligning with your values. This holistic approach results in long-term, impactful placements that elevate board performance.
How does Hanover ensure diversity in director and chair placements?
We passionately believe that diverse boards make better decisions. Hanover actively sources candidates from varied backgrounds in terms of experience, thought and demographics. Our global network and commitment to DE&I allow us to present candidates who bring fresh perspectives to create an inclusive, high-performing board.
How does Hanover assess cultural fit for board placements?
Cultural fit is as crucial as technical expertise. We engage with key stakeholders to deeply understand your board’s dynamics and values. Through detailed assessments and a tailored vetting process, we ensure that each candidate’s style, values and approach align with your board’s ethos and strategic direction.
What support does Hanover offer beyond the selection process?
Hanover is invested in the success of every placement. After a director or chair joins your board, we provide onboarding support, alignment workshops and coaching to integrate them seamlessly and maximise their impact. Our goal is to ensure that new board members not only fit but thrive.
How does Hanover balance industry expertise with a fresh perspective in board placements?
We recognise the need for both experience and innovation. Hanover’s extensive network includes seasoned leaders as well as emerging talent who bring fresh ideas and adaptability. We balance industry knowledge with new perspectives to create a board composition that drives both stability and growth.
How does Hanover balance confidentiality with transparency throughout the board search process?
We understand the importance of running searches sensitively, prioritising both discretion and clear communication. We maintain strict confidentiality to protect the interests of all parties involved, while providing clients with regular, transparent updates on search progress. This balanced approach ensures that our clients remain informed and confident without compromising sensitive information.
Connect With Us
Find out how Hanover can help.
Whether you’re looking for your next great hire, want to strengthen your team or navigate industry challenges, our consultants are here to help. Reach out today and let’s have a conversation on how we can support your goals.