Challenge
When one of the world’s largest consumer goods companies sought to recruit an experienced chief information officer from outside the company, our 20-year relationship with this client ensured that they turned to us.
The company was looking for a new type of CIO who would be responsible for the organization’s global IT resources. Whereas previous CIOs had backgrounds in business rather than in IT and were strategically strong, technology had not been their strong suit. Our client now needed a CIO who was not only strong in commerce and strategy, but also technically skilled and able to provide effective leadership to divisional and functional IT executives.
Action
The candidate specification called for a heavy-weight executive, with experience in a Fortune 100 or equivalent company, who would have influence among the organization’s senior-level leaders. In addition, the company’s structure and distinctive working environment meant that the cultural fit between candidate and client was vital.
Our team of consultants from the U.S. and the U.K. began the search by looking at large consumer goods companies and other relevant industries with complex global IT operations.
Thanks to our strong relationship with the company, the client trusted us to use our initiative to search for prospects in markets where the client would not have expected us to look. With the advantage of our global network of consultants, we were able to draw on expertise in different markets. The short list comprised six candidates, two of whom were based in the U.K. and came from consumer service backgrounds. The other four prospects were based in the U.S. and came from technology companies.
Result
One of the U.K. candidates emerged as the preferred candidate and accepted the role. His experience in a FTSE 100 company, operating at the most senior level combined with the fact that he was suited to our client’s organizational culture and structure, made him the ideal choice.