Case Study: Interim CEO appointment | Public Law Project
Public Law Project (PLP) is one of the UK’s most respected legal and social justice charities, working to advance fairness through public law.
Public Law Project (PLP) is one of the UK’s most respected legal and social justice charities, working to advance fairness through public law. From holding the government to account over the Windrush scandal to challenging the legality of the Rwanda deportation scheme, PLP stands at the forefront of some of the UK’s most critical legal debates. As it entered a new phase of strategic delivery and external positioning, PLP sought an Interim Chief Executive Officer to lead during a pivotal period of parental leave cover.
This was a crucial appointment, not only to maintain continuity but to actively lead the implementation of a bold new strategy, strengthen internal capability and champion PLP’s external voice across the legal and social justice landscape.
Context.
This appointment came at a moment of organisational energy and change. With a refreshed Board, several new team members and a bold strategic direction, PLP was looking for someone who could provide clarity, cohesion and momentum. The interim CEO would need to be handson and purpose driven, leading a skilled team through complexity while keeping the focus on culture, impact and inclusion.
Key priorities included building organisational capability, strengthening external positioning and nurturing high value relationships with funders. Fundraising and visibility were high on the agenda, as was ensuring PLP remained agile and responsive to the shifting legal and political context. It was also important that the new leader could empower others, creating space for the senior team to grow and thrive.
PLP was open to a range of professional backgrounds and was clear that deep legal expertisewas not essential. What mattered most was someone who could lead with maturity, integrityand care and who shared the organisation’s commitment to justice and equity.
Brief.
Peridot was proud to be appointed to lead this important search, with James Hunt, our Head of Not for Profit Appointments, working closely with the outgoing CEO, Chair, Trustees and senior staff. Together, we shaped a brief for an emotionally intelligent and strategic leader, capable of delivering through others and holding the trust of a values-led team.
We looked for a track record of leadership in mission driven contexts, alongside a deep commitment to inclusion and organisational well-being. Candidates needed to be confident fundraisers, experienced in governance and able to navigate legal and policy spaces with credibility and insight. Our search focused on surfacing individuals with lived experience and a passion for social justice. We engaged widely across legal, policy, campaigning and civil society networks, ensuring we reached beyond the usual pools and connected with candidates from underrepresented backgrounds. We focused not only on technical fit but on alignment with PLP’s culture and aspirations.
Outcome.
We were delighted to support PLP in appointing Jamie Peters as Interim Chief Executive. Jamie is an experienced and strategic leader in the social justice and environmental sectors, with a long track record of delivering impactful change across litigation, campaigning andorganisational strategy.
Jamie stepped into the Interim CEO role from Friends of the Earth, where he had served as Interim CEO, Director of Campaign Impact and Special Projects Lead. At FoE, he led large teams, shaped national campaigns and secured major wins in the High Court and the Supreme Court.
His leadership is defined by clarity, collaboration and purpose. Jamie is a visible and values driven leader, trusted by funders, respected across the sector and committed to empowering others. He has personally cultivated relationships that brought in millions in funding, strengthened organisational resilience and connected grassroots voices to national legal action.
Jamie brings a strong understanding of governance, having reported to dual boards and led regulatory engagement with multiple bodies. His work is grounded in equity and inclusion, witha focus on building psychologically safe cultures where people can bring their whole selves anddo their best work.
From the outset, Jamie impressed with his warmth, humility and sense of shared purpose. He understood PLP’s mission and was energised by the opportunity to help shape the next phase of its journey.
Category: Case studies
Consultant in charge
James Hunt
Director | Membership & Development
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.
