We were approached by the Group CEO of a privately owned Holding Company with half a dozen subsidiary companies, all of which are well-known and long-established names in their respective markets. The Group CEO had been referred to us by a mutual contact in the world of Private Equity investment.
One of the subsidiary companies was struggling with an ‘old school’ Managing Director at a time when the sector was changing rapidly, thanks to technology. The Group CEO was intent on ensuring the subsidiary was at the forefront of market developments and instructed us to identify a new and more creative Managing Director with a much more responsive approach to customer demands and expectations.
Subsequently the Group CEO was faced with an unexpected resignation from another of the Managing Directors in the Group. As the largest and most profitable company in the group a new MD had to be identified quickly and discreetly.
It was not long afterwards that the Group CEO entrusted us with the search to find the next MD for the smallest of the Group companies, which required a deft turnaround and rebuild.
Working very closely with the Group CEO and Group CFO we agreed the parameters of the roles to be filled and undertook detailed research to identify candidates from not only the same sector but also from analogous sectors too. When one of the companies became the subject of merger talks, that search was put on hold, but by keeping close to the candidates the search continued to a successful conclusion when the Group CEO declined the merger offer and instead invested for growth in that company.
Friisberg subsequently undertook a very successful search for a new Group CFO
