A global division of a leading market research company, newly independent thanks to a significant investment from a European private equity firm, was in immediate need of a new Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). The CHRO would steer ambitious growth initiatives and manage a diverse, international workforce during its separation from the parent company.
Navigating the fluid situation of detachment from the parent company and varying timelines due to private equity involvement, our search for the new CHRO was notably intricate, especially given an existing HR director.
These changes offered an opportunity to revisit the company’s approach to human capital, with the executive team—headed by a female CEO and supported by a balanced board, seizing an opportunity to refine the company’s focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I).
Fully comprehending the multi-layered challenges, we sought a CHRO who could redefine the role’s traditional boundaries. Leveraging our specialised expertise, we developed a customised search strategy.
Through a deep understanding of the client’s unique culture and operational needs, we curated a shortlist of five outstanding candidates, each of whom exceeded the client’s criteria and displayed a balanced approach to gender and ethnic diversity.
The selected candidate was more than just an experienced CHRO. They embodied the role of a strategic and commercial Chief People Officer (CPO) with a proven track record in talent management and leadership during change. Their expertise in mergers and acquisitions provided invaluable insights for the business at this critical stage, and their strong commitment to DE&I perfectly aligned with the organisation’s core values and leadership philosophy.
The onboarding of this new CPO led to improved talent retention and development initiatives and set the business on a pathway to becoming a high-growth entity, exceeding expectations and fulfilling its objectives.
