Having supported a number of start-ups in hiring Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) over the last few years, I've witnessed first-hand the invaluable contributions they can make to a company's growth and success. The right NED brings a unique blend of experience, expertise, and objectivity to the boardroom, providing invaluable guidance and support to the executive team.

When considering hiring a NED, it's essential to align their skills and experience with the specific needs of your start-up. Look for individuals who have a rich and fruitful network they can leverage, a track record ‘operating’ within successful organisations, someone who offers strategic insights, challenges assumptions, and provides valuable mentorship to you and your founding team without stepping on anybody's toes. 

An effective NED has the ability to foster a culture of innovation, collaboration and accountability, will ask the right questions, provide invaluable mentorship to your leadership team and help guide your growth strategy rather than dictate it.

Throughout my experience, I've found that NEDs who are passionate about the mission of a start-up and its vision tend to be the most effective. They are more likely to be engaged, proactive, and committed to long-term success. Building a strong rapport and trust between the NED and the executive team is also crucial for effective collaboration. The NED should compliment your team, bringing fresh ideas to the table, acting as a sounding board, a source of inspiration, motivation and belief in realising your company goals.

In my role at Hyperion, I've had the pleasure of working with directly a couple of NED's who have helped support our own growth. I've also worked with several cleantech and EV start-ups to appoint NED's at crucial stages of their growth, from pre-investment to post-investment scale-up phase. 

If you are considering hiring a NED, carefully evaluate their expertise, experience, and alignment with your company goals. Ask yourself, what support does your business need and what value will hiring a NED bring. And of course, if you need help finding one, consider myself and Hyperion Executive Search - we've been doing this for years.