NED, CEO & CFO
Client / Mandate complexity
The mandate required sourcing a high-calibre CEO with deep domain expertise in a niche sector. The successful candidate needed a proven track record in scale-up environments to stabilise the business during a phase of aggressive expansion.
Addressing a completely remote workforce, the initial challenge involved establishing a central corporate office geographically optimised for all operational locations. Following the successful CEO placement, the client required an immediate CFO to act as a vital interface between the private equity firm and the portfolio company. While the client initially sought an interim professional to rapidly stabilise financial infrastructure and reporting, we accelerated the process to secure a permanent CFO available for immediate deployment.
Key requirements
The ideal profile demanded a rare blend of hands-on technical expertise and sophisticated financial acumen. The candidate needed the operational fluency to lead on-site engineering teams, alongside the commercial gravitas to drive strategic, data-driven board discussions with private equity partners.
Constraints or sensitivities
Faced with a highly restricted target market within district heating, we strategically broadened our search mapping into the wider energy and infrastructure construction sectors. This lateral approach expanded the talent pool, allowing us to benchmark diverse, high-calibre candidates while maintaining a strict focus on cultural alignment.
Market mapping and intelligence
During the market mapping phase, we identified several exceptionally qualified senior leaders whose expertise transcended the original brief. Leveraging this market intelligence, we proactively advised the client to expand the governance structure, resulting in the organic creation and successful appointment of a new Board Chairman.
Candidate evaluation process
The selection process involved a rigorous, multi-stage evaluation framework encompassing seven to eight assessment rounds, including Hogan psychometric profiling and interactive case study workshops.