Case Studies
RECRUITMENT OF A R&D DIRECTOR FOR A LEADING CONSUMER GOODS COMPANY
Situation Analysis
A global, leading consumer goods company was looking for a very specialised Research & Development Director to look after product quality management and launch product innovations.
The search was particularly challenging due to the specialist nature of the desired candidate profile as well as the fact the country in which the R&D headquarters was located led to contractual restrictions on being able to source potential candidates from direct competition.
Action
Neumann International dedicated a specialised team from the International Fast Moving Consumer Goods Sector Practice including an international Senior Researcher who co-ordinated and completed the international search.
The search required solid desk research as well as sophisticated use of Internet search tools and worked across borders with regions including Western Europe, Scandinavia, the UK and the USA and Canada.
Neumann International facilitated international phone call and video conference interviews between candidates and the client and “presentation days” for the client to meet a number of candidates at the client’s headquarters on the one day. Neumann International was present at these meetings with the client’s decision makers to assist with the evaluation and decision making process.
Result
Within seven weeks a Canadian R&D specialist was sourced and selected and offered the position of R&D Director. Neumann International mediated final negotiations between the candidate and client as well as assisting with discussion and decisions surrounding the relocation packages.
Neumann International continues to work with the client to assist it in locating, attracting and retaining talent.
RECRUITMENT OF A CONSUMER GOODS UNION LEADER
Situation Analysis
One of the largest unions in France with nearly one million members was suffering from an internal political and economic crisis due to lack of financial resources. Its present leader was not able to represent the members sufficiently. One of the Union’s key members, the consumer goods market leading organisation had even left the Union and did not want to continue to contribute to its operating costs.
Neumann International was appointed by the 12 member board of the Union after the Union experienced great difficulty in finding candidates to become the new Union leader. The client wanted Neumann International to conduct a comprehensive search using Neumann International’s renowned industry knowledge, networks and professional reputation. The client trusted Neumann International’s sensitivity and diplomacy skills to deal with the challenging assignment and to understand the political and economic issues surrounding it.
Action
The Neumann International team conducted comprehensive briefings with all the Presidents, Vice-Presidents and the last leader of Union to thoroughly understand the background to the assignment, the desired candidate profile and the organisation culture.
Following the briefings with the client Neumann International proposed a search strategy that involved research on, and sourcing of, potential candidates not only from other large unions in France and Benelux but also from other consumer goods companies. The search included sourcing candidates currently in Chairman positions and additionally some Ministerial Executive staff already familiar with the issues being faced by the Union.
Result
After two months of exhaustive research over 30 candidate interviews took place and Neumann International facilitated the decision making process by organising a conference call with the 12 key representatives of the Union during which the results from the research and interviews were discussed and a shortlist of three candidates were decided upon.
The three candidates met a decision making committee and one candidate was selected as the ideal candidate with a profile that included experience as a union executive and a previous position as a Chairman of a large international food company.
Neumann International completed comprehensive reference checks and assisted with the final negotiations. The candidate was appointed and has subsequently been offered another high profile position with a different international union which he now undertakes alongside his position with the consumer goods union.