Going the Extra Mile to Make the Right Connection

Finding the right person for a senior management role can be an extremely difficult and onerous task, especially at a time when shortage of talent is fast becoming an issue for many businesses, large or small.

Hexham based Econnect, the renewable energy specialist faced this very issue when looking to recruit not just one, but two Managing Directors for separate divisions of the organisation which were both experiencing very different challenges.

After a brief review of the market, the organisation realised that it needed specialist support. Having successfully partnered with Executives Online for previous interim management roles, Econnect turned to the fast-track headhunting company based on its ability to quickly respond to the specific needs of an organisation.

Challenges

Traditional search can often prove to be an ineffective approach when looking to recruit permanent executives as it will only be able to deliver a short list of candidates after a couple of months. This was certainly misaligned with Econnect’s requirements as it needed to fill one of the Managing Director positions quickly in order to reduce the business exposure. Econnect was looking for a conclusion to its situation within weeks rather than months without compromising on the quality of its demanding brief.

Solution

Executives Online applied its Pinpoint e-Search methodology to respond to Econnect’s needs quickly and efficiently. Conducting a Fast-Track Search the team at Executives Online undertook a search of its unique and exclusive global talent bank of pre-screened candidates to identify whether an existing optimum-match already existed. This was complemented by a comprehensive digital search of candidates using its candidate acquisition engine and web search tools. By carrying out the Fast-Track Search, Executives Online was able to submit a shortlist of best match candidates for consideration to Econnect within a matter of days, rather than weeks.

As a result, Bryan G was officially in post as the Managing Director for the Construction division within six weeks of the job application closing date.

Although Econnect was eager to have a permanent Managing Director secured for the Ventures division, this was less time sensitive as an interim was already in place. The challenge with this particular brief was the time of year, as Christmas was fast approaching. Traditional recruiters would normally rely on press activity to secure interest in vacant executive positions but this can prove to be highly ineffective around the holiday season. The advantage of Executives Online’s service is that it utilises the internet to engage with potential candidates. As a result Executives Online was able to provide a long list of candidates for Econnect to evaluate at the very start of the following year. Because of its global reach Executives Online found the perfect match with Iain M who was looking to move from Canada back to the UK, his native country. Subsequently, he accepted the position of Managing Director of the technology arm, Econnect Ventures Limited.

Verdict

Guy Nicholson, Chief Executive of Econnect explains: “We were looking for the right type of person to run the key construction division of the business and, after briefly searching unsuccessfully ourselves, we realised that we needed support from a specialist recruitment partner. Executives Online quickly understood our brief and took no time at all to provide us with a shortlist of high calibre executives. As a result we were able to have both positions filled in a matter of several weeks, rather than months.

Bryan G, Managing Director of Econnect Construction says: “I’m extremely grateful for the way in which Executives Online enabled me to secure this role. The lines of communication were always open to ensure both their client’s and my expectations were met. Econnect is part of a very exciting and challenging sector and having the opportunity to demonstrate my expertise in order to help the organisation continue to be successful is an exciting time for me.”

Iain M, Managing Director of Econnect Ventures Limited comments: “Executives Online was extremely professional throughout the recruitment process. Even though I was thousands of miles away the organisation was able to provide continuous updates on the progress of my application. It is a testament to their international presence that I was able to find a new career in a different country.”