Privately owned European multinational company that engineers solutions to increase machine productivity, reduce emissions, lower energy consumption, and enable electrification, employing more than 40,000 employees globally. They have retained Pacific International Executive Search to identify and source a Director of Product and Transformation to improve efficiency and drive continuous improvement across non-manufacturing parts of the business.
Our client, known for its strong focus on manufacturing operations efficiencies approached us with an entirely new initiative: to build a team of lean experts who would use their expertise to drive efficiencies across areas of the business not traditionally approached with a lean mindset. They would focus on corporate functions like sales, marketing, finance, and operations, aimed at improving efficiency and driving continuous improvement across these areas. The goal was to assemble a diverse team of four individuals with expertise in lean management and process excellence, starting with the Director of Product and Transformation.
However, significant challenges emerged early in the process. The role required extensive travel (up to 90%), which proved particularly difficult when trying to attract female leaders. Additionally, the initial search identified candidates who came from consultancy backgrounds and it quickly became apparent that a mix of consultancy and corporate experience would yield better candidates for the client.
To address these challenges, we developed a highly tailored recruitment strategy. Once our team focused on a broader candidate pool which included professionals with a mix of consultancy and corporate experience, we we able to identify high-impact individuals with lean management expertise and the leadership qualities required for the roles. By focusing on candidates who could bridge the gap between consultancy and corporate environments, we were able to recommend profiles that met the client’s evolving needs. This included advising the client to consider candidates with experience not only in lean management but also in other critical areas like finance, HR, and IT.
Despite the challenges, we successfully placed four candidates into key leadership roles. While the initial goal of gender diversity was not fully achieved, we were still able to identify and attract diverse talent which met our client’s expectations. Two candidates were onboarded within the first two months, with additional hires taking place over the following months. The client appreciated our ability to adapt to their changing requirements and deliver high-quality candidates who could contribute to the transformation project. The project’s success can be attributed to the exceptional research skills of our team, flexibility, and timely decision-making, ultimately exceeding client expectations in terms of process speed and quality. We continue to help our clients fill the skills gaps in other critical areas of the business.
