Challenge
With more than 140,000 employees around the world, this global technology leader does business in more than 170 countries, working with 40 different countries and 10 languages.
When the executive vice president of human resources announced her upcoming retirement after a distinguished 26-year career, our client needed to hire a replacement who understood the value that strategic human resources could bring to a globally branded, multinational, multicultural business.
The candidate would need to have significant experience working closely with a CEO and COO, with a track record of driving strategic decisions through the HR organisation and the company. The executive would be responsible for managing the development and implementation of HR strategy and policies globally.
Action
Consultants from our Human Resources and Technology, Communications & Media practices met with the client to identify the core competencies for the position. Our team of consultants also benefited from working with the outgoing executive vice president of HR, getting her insights about the demands of the role and the type of leader who would likely be successful.
From these discussions, it became clear that the company needed someone equally skilled in HR operations and business and change management; an executive who was an expert in driving change and could further the great work already underway.
The team quickly identified 29 seasoned HR executives from global firms in the technology, aviation, consumer goods and industrial sectors, all of whom had faced business and change management situations. After assessing both the external and internal candidates, we presented five candidates to the client.
Result
The client was ultimately drawn to a candidate that hailed from a major financial institution. The candidate’s extensive international background, experience in both HR and operational roles, successful record of developing breakthrough HR initiatives, and leading change was precisely what our client needed.