Iceland Foods Ltd, a British supermarket chain, faced the delicate task of enhancing its leadership team. The company needed leaders who could embody their unique culture of pace, dynamism, and energy, while driving growth. The challenge was accentuated by the geographical location, with the need to attract talent willing to relocate to Iceland’s Northern base, a region not traditionally seen as a retail hub.
Recognising the critical importance of cultural fit alongside professional expertise, our strategy was twofold: deeply immerse ourselves in Iceland’s culture to understand the essence of what makes the company tick, and then identify and attract individuals who could contribute to this environment and their family-oriented philosophy.
Partnering with Iceland for many years, we carried out searches for a range of pivotal roles, including a Chief Customer Officer, Head of Stores, Retail Directors, supply chain heads, and buyers, all of whom needed to have a strong B2C background to align with Iceland’s customer-centric approach.
Through diligent market research and leveraging our extensive network within the retail sector, we tailored each search to meet the geographical challenge, while ensuring each candidates was committed to the family values, and was prepared for the move to the HQ in the North of the country. Acting as advisors, we challenged the brief to ensure we brought Iceland the most capable and aligned leadership team.
The collaboration with Iceland resulted in multiple strategic placements that have collectively elevated the company’s leadership capability. Each new leader brought a fresh perspective grounded by their specific retail experience, and seamlessly integrated into the company culture, maintaining the unique spirit of the business.
