The Brief: With an established relationship already in place through several years of successful partnership, this leading healthcare communications agency trusted us to find a Board Director to head up their team. As the role was to replace a much-loved and long-serving Director, finding someone with excellent experience and the right fit culturally for the team was crucial.
The Challenge: The key challenge was twofold:
- Replacing a long-serving Director who was deeply integrated into the team and its culture.
- Navigating a niche industry where preconceived ideas about well-known agencies can be difficult to change.
Our Approach: To address these challenges, we went above and beyond to ensure a thorough and effective hiring process:
- Client Engagement: We carried out a full assessment to identify the agency’s specific requirements. This involved understanding the team’s culture and the unique demands of the role.
- Organic Search: Our consultants explored their existing networks and leveraged recommendations from within the healthcare market to identify suitable candidates.
- Continuous Candidate Sharing: Instead of waiting to provide a shortlist at the end of the search, we shared profiles of suitable candidates with the client throughout the process. This allowed for a more efficient search and enabled us to adjust based on the client’s feedback.
- Re-education of Candidates: We focused on re-educating candidates about the agency’s core values, the investment they were willing to make in their team, and their credible reputation with clients.
The Solution: Our meticulous approach and dedication to clear communication paid off. Despite the favourite candidate pulling out at the final stage, we utilised our network of recommendations and identified another credible candidate who was returning from maternity leave. This candidate was not only highly qualified but also available to start within the desired timeframe.
Client Reaction: The client was thoroughly impressed with our ability to find another top-tier candidate under challenging circumstances. Our commitment to understanding the client’s needs and maintaining continuous communication ensured a successful outcome.