CLIENT: A Global Organizational Development Training and Consulting firm

EXECUTIVES: Full Leadership team

BUSINESS UNIT: C-Suite

Executive Search Recruiting Challenge: Chief Executive Officer for a Private Equity Client

The Situation

We were retained to lead the efforts to find a new Chief Executive Officer for a Private Equity backed client. This was a delicate search and had to be handled very confidentially as the person that was currently in the role had been promoted from within and was not yet aware that they would be moved into a different position. After speaking with a number of search firms our client chose to partner with us because of our industry experience, responsiveness, and hands-on approach.

Solution Implemented

By collaborating with the Private Equity team and Board of Directors and we began by honing in on the ideal profile for the new CEO and what the key things were that this person would need to accomplish. In an effort to attract the right candidate we also brainstormed with our client about how to position the firm and the role in a way that would attract the right type of people. Our research team identified every CEO, Managing Director and Vice President within a 50 mile radius of the client’s main office. Our research team then went on to conduct a similar search nationally so that the client would be made aware of all top talent in the market.

The Search Results

By gaining the needed insight, as well as proactively searching and networking, a short list of highly qualified and skilled executives surfaced and was presented to the client. Knowing that this search might require some calibration we decided with our client that the best approach would be to set up a weekly call and present candidates as we found them until they felt they had their new CEO. We presented a total of 7 candidates throughout the search and 5 of those candidates were selected to go through several phone and face-face interviews. Once the top two finalists emerged the current CEO was informed and brought into the process, meeting with these two candidates.  Within sixty two days of starting this search the company had received an accepted offer letter from their candidate of choice. Placing this new Chief Executive Officer for a Private Equity backed client proves that our dedicated executive search teams understand the needs of a variety of industries and clients.