Case Studies
A leading global retail business had recently gone through a
complete review of its Information Technology infrastructure.
Following several key findings carried out as a result of the
review, which was conducted by a major consulting firm, it was
clear that the IT function needed a unifying leader. Three very
separate divisions within the group were operating independently of
each other and as a result IT was not supporting the store
operations in an effective and efficient manner.
Capitis Partners were instructed to carry out an International
search for a Group IT Director. Our first task was to map clearly
the population where an established, change driven IT Director
could be sourced. Working closely with both the Group HR Director
and the Group Finance Director, Capitis compiled a truly reflective
Assignment Briefing Pack, which enabled target candidates to make
an informed decision as to whether they would be up to the huge
challenges that lay ahead of them.
The search was concluded in under eight weeks from its inception
and within two months the successful Group IT Director has already
made structural changes to the department that have made a direct
bottom line impact. He has, working closely with Capitis and the HR
Director, formulated a key strategic plan which meant revisions in
the department structure and an underlying increase in bottom-line
efficiency. As a result of this successful search Capitis Partners
were subsequently
One of the UK’s leading gaming businesses, with over 50
units within the UK and Europe, operating across a number of
well-known brands all of which are market leaders in their
respective segments.
The company, based in UK, and it’s board identified the
need for a concise development strategy going forward to be able to
deal with the forthcoming changes in the gaming laws. Faced with
the fact that the existing team, although competent, did not have
sufficient depth or breadth of experience in terms of technical
ability or management leadership, the company retained Capitis
Partners to find this board–level Property Development
Director.
The successful candidate would be solidly business-oriented;
exceptional at building relationships with internal clients, and
business partners; strategic and proactive in providing counsel to
senior management; and experienced in managing a geographically
dispersed and diverse team of property professionals.
Working to a strict timetable Capitis Partners was able to work
closely with the client in drawing up a specifically targeted long
list. From this list a two person research team started work
identifying and approaching specific individuals immediately.
Interviews were organised from the end of the first week and a
short-list was formed within four weeks of taking the brief.
Regular updates were fed back to the client and the lead partner
stayed in constant contact with the Human Resources Director
running the assignment.
As a result of these seamlessly coordinated efforts, we
identified, evaluated, and presented multiple candidates to the
client. The successful candidate was a senior-level Property
Director who had both asset management as well as extensive
development experience within both out-of-town developments as well
as smaller high street units.
Capitis Partners were asked to help source a newly created
European role for a leading European retail and wholesale
healthcare group. The role, although primarily based in UK was
responsible for the retail operations in several newly entered East
European markets.
The group currently operates in 7 European countries on either a
wholly-owned or joint venture basis with over 300 retail outlets in
the region. Eager to take advantage of further expansion
possibilities in the European Union, our client decided that it
needed to expand it’s current retail team to include an
experienced retail operator with Eastern European experience. Our
client was concerned that as a small, close-knit team, hiring
externally may upset the balance within it’s team members and
cause potential disruption amongst the regional offices. It was
agreed t he successful candidate would be solidly
business-oriented; exceptional at building relationships with
internal clients, franchisees, and business partners; strategic and
proactive in providing counsel to senior management; and
experienced in managing a geographically dispersed and diverse team
of retailers.
Capitis Partners began by reviewing which UK and European
companies provided similar services (healthcare retailing) and
discussing this with the client. On deciding that it would be
beneficial to bring in fresh retailing perspectives, Capitis agreed
to look outside of the usual talent pool to seek this talent.
Capitis used our extensive research network and after agreeing a
tight timetable with the client presented the shortlist of five
fully qualified candidates within five weeks of inception of the
search. All the candidates fitted the brief and several spoke more
than two European languages including English. Each candidate
possessed a desire to work within emerging retail markets in a
company that was willing to nurture and grow it’s talent.
All the shortlisted candidates were interviewed resulting in the
hire of an MBA qualified and highly experienced European retail
professional. Although this individual had no previous healthcare
experience it was unanimously agreed that their professional
attitude and approach would see them fit seamlessly into the team.
Along with a structured induction programme within Head Office and
the regional offices any potential disturbance to the balance of
the existing teams was minimised and the introduction of the new
employee was allowed to progress smoothly.
A leading and highly progressive multi site leisure business had
been seeking to recruit an HR & Training Director over a period
of 9 months. One of the UK’s primary search firms had been
retained on this assignment in September 2003, but had been
unsuccessful and by June of this year our client was still looking
to appoint this key director.
Capitis Partners was then instructed to pick up on this search -
our first piece of work for the client. The first task was to map
out the population of companies where a generalist HR professional
(but with extensive learning/development knowledge) could be
sourced. Working closely with the Customer Services Director,
Capitis compiled a comprehensive Assignment Briefing Pack, which
furnished possible candidates with all the relevant information
required for the role. This list was then discussed and agreed with
the client who combined it with the original long-list ensuring
that there was no ‘doubling–up’.
The search was concluded in less than eight weeks from its
inception (despite taking place in the peak holiday time of July
and August). The Customer Services Director concluded that all of
the candidates that were seen through Capitis were better than all
of those previously seen through the headline search firm initially
retained.
As a result of this successful search Capitis Partners have
cemented their relationship with this client and are now a
preferred recruitment partner.
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