Executive Assistant to CEO

Founders Forum is home to an ambitious, fast-moving leadership team operating at the centre of the global tech and startup ecosystem. As Executive Assistant to the CEO, you will play a critical role in enabling focus, momentum, and impact at the very top of the organisation.

About Founders Forum Group

Founders Forum is Europe’s prominent entrepreneur community, focused around a number of annual events where our guests engage in open debate, brainstorms, discussions and problem solving in an intimate and collaborative atmosphere - building connections and discussing how to accelerate the positive impact of technology on the world.

Now, in our twenty-first year, we continue to host invite-only forums, tackling era-defining questions in iconic locations worldwide. We have welcomed guests such as Eric Schmidt, Google; Richard Branson, Virgin Group; Katherine Ryder, Maven Clinic; Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn; Evan Spiegel, Snap Inc; Emily Weiss, Glossier; Shahrzad Rafati, BroadbandTV; Sir David Attenborough, Broadcaster; Marissa Mayer, Yahoo; Bob Iger, Disney; Jean Liu, Didi Chuxing; Ted Sarandos, Netflix; Carolyn McCall, ITV; Tim Steiner, Ocado … the list goes on!

As our community has grown, Founders Forum has built a family of companies to support the needs of entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey. These businesses cover advisory, executive search, diversity and inclusion, venture creation, investment, education, giving and more.

The Opportunity

You will be the CEO’s right hand on time, priorities, and logistics: anticipating needs, protecting attention, and ensuring that days, weeks, and travel plans run seamlessly. Being a part of Team CEO, you will work closely with the CEO, Chief of Staff, and senior stakeholders from across Founders Forum Group as well as external HNWIs, FTSE 100 companies from around the world.

If you are someone who thrives on responsibility, discretion, and being at the heart of decision-making, this is a rare and exciting opportunity.

Responsibilities

CEO Support & Enablement

• Full ownership of the CEO’s complex diary, inbox, and meeting cadence, ensuring time is spent on the highest-impact priorities
• Proactive diary planning across short, medium, and long-term horizons (daily flow, weekly priorities, long-term travel and personal commitments)
• Managing all CEO travel logistics end-to-end, including international travel, visas, itineraries, and contingency planning
• Expenses management and administrative support, exercising efficiency and discretion at all times

Strategic & Operational Support

• Acting as a trusted gatekeeper and point of contact for internal and external stakeholders
• Working closely with the Chief of Staff on briefing materials for meetings, events, and speaking engagements
• Assisting preparation agendas, briefing documents, and drafting follow-ups to ensure meetings lead to action
• Supporting key projects where CEO time, coordination, or preparation is critical
• Supporting Chief of Staff closely on special projects and new ventures as required
• Own executing the sending of invitations on the CEOs behalf to ensure the highest calibre speakers and attendees are secured for Founders Forum and Tech Nation events
• Helping to spearhead to ongoing organisation of the CEOs quarterly leading women in business events
• Facilitating email introductions on the CEOs behalf to ensure she is supporting connections across the tech ecosystem as much as possible
• Embedding productivity processes to enable improved cross group collaboration.

Communication & Coordination

• Managing sensitive and confidential information with exceptional judgement
• Anticipating risks, clashes, and pressure points before they arise
• Building strong working relationships across the Founders Forum Group to enable fast, effective collaboration
• Liaising with high level stakeholders (HNWIs, FTSE 100 companies etc) on a daily basis
• Keeping the CEO and team connected as we grow

Growth & Development

This role is designed to grow with the group, events business and the individual. Over time, scope may expand into:

• Ownership of CEO rhythm and operating cadence
• Greater involvement and ownership in strategic projects and cross-functional initiatives
• Travelling with the CEO to give on the ground support

You’ll have knocked our socks off in 6 months if…

• The CEO’s time feels calm, more intentional, and more impactful
• You are consistently one step ahead of priorities, travel, and decision-making needs
• Stakeholders trust you as an extension of the CEO
• Meetings are better prepared, more focused, and more productive
• You are supporting the FF & TN team in contextualising the CEOs key relationships to support with the execution of key events

This role is for you if…

• You are exceptionally organised, detail-oriented, and calm under pressure
• You enjoy anticipating needs rather than reacting to them
• You are curious about the global tech industry and its pioneers.
• You are comfortable spinning multiple plates and are a ruthless prioritiser
• You are discreet, trustworthy, and confident handling sensitive information
• You are comfortable with occasionally being ‘on’ outside of working hours
• You thrive in a fast-moving, unstructured environment
• You are kind, composed, and emotionally intelligent
• You are confident liaising with high level stakeholders (HNWIs, FTSE 100 companies etc)

Requirements

• 1+ years’ experience in executive support or a similarly demanding role
• Right to work in the UK
• Strong experience with Google Workspace
• Comfortable with the use of AI in your everyday work
• Interest in tech and startups is a bonus

Benefits

We offer a range of flexible, discretionary benefits to our team. These currently include:

• 25 days contractual annual leave
• Enhanced discretionary leave provision, including an additional day off for your birthday and leave between Christmas and New Years Day
• The option to work remotely anywhere in the world for 3 weeks/year (1 week at Easter and 2 weeks during July and August) 
• AXA Health insurance, with the option to add dependents
• Life Insurance
• Medicash access including online GP access and mental health support
• Employee Assistance Program
• Competitive pension provision
• Perkbox membership with generous monthly allocation of points for day to day purchases
• Learning and development annual allowance
• Cycle to work scheme
• Lunch 1x/week, office snacks, and regular team drinks
• Quarterly team activities and annual team trip/day out 
• Access to the Founders Forum Group network of businesses and wider tech ecosystem

We currently have a hybrid working model with Monday to Thursday spent in the office and Friday with the option to work remotely/from home.