Starfish Search
Interim Chief Executive

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Starfish Search is partnering with a well-known leisure and entertainment venue in the Midlands to appoint an Interim Chief Executive Officer.
This is an organisation with plenty going on: a significant operator in its sector, a busy year-round programme, an established Senior Leadership Team and a local authority shareholder. It is now entering a defined period of transition and needs an experienced interim leader to step in, take the reins and provide visible, confident leadership while a permanent Chief Executive is appointed.
The Role
This is a role about steadying, strengthening and getting things moving. You’ll set clear priorities for the Senior Leadership Team, create pace and accountability, and make sure the organisation continues to deliver safely, effectively and commercially.
You won’t be coming in to write a five-year strategy or redesign the organisation from scratch. Instead, you’ll quickly get under the skin of the business, understand what matters most, tackle the immediate priorities and make sure the right foundations are in place for your permanent successor.
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I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
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Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
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Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
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A key part of the role will be bringing a sharp, clear view of the organisation’s financial position - including performance, cash, forecasting, controls and key commercial risks. Working closely with the Finance Director and the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee, you’ll strengthen financial and internal controls, improve the quality and timeliness of information reaching the Board, and bring greater clarity around delegated authority, escalation and decision-making.
You’ll also take the findings of a recent independent governance review and turn them into action: a practical, prioritised implementation plan with clear ownership, timescales and reporting. Maintaining external stakeholder relationships and ensuring the organisation continues to operate with confidence throughout the transition is key.
Alongside this, you’ll have ultimate responsibility for health and safety, licensing compliance and the effective day-to-day running of the company.
About You
You’re likely to be an experienced Chief Executive, Managing Director or senior executive who is comfortable walking into a complex organisation and getting up to speed quickly.


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You’ll bring substantial senior leadership experience from a commercial, public sector, leisure, venue, sporting or similarly stakeholder-rich environment, together with strong commercial and financial judgement.
You’ll know what good governance looks like in practice, with experience of internal controls, risk management and board assurance. Just as importantly, you’ll understand the distinction between executive management, board governance and shareholder oversight and have the credibility and confidence to operate effectively across all three.
If you’re an experienced senior leader who enjoys making a difference when it matters, this is an opportunity to step into a high-profile organisation, provide stability through an important period of change and make a tangible impact.
On-site physical presence is important for this role, there will be an element of hybrid working but in the early days you will be expected to be on-site.
Closing Date
Closing date for applications: Thursday 24 September.
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