Head of department for a retail company

Hays Executive recruits specialist leadership personnel for companies in Germany.

We were asked by an internationally active retail enterprise to find a head of department with computer centre experience. The company was looking for a candidate with a retail background who was familiar with complex IT landscapes. To drive forward restructuring activities within the company they were looking for a strong leadership personality capable of directing the restructuring process and redeploying personnel. Accordingly, not only IT expertise but also excellent communication skills and a high level of management focus were called for.

Our client’s personnel department had already been seeking suitable candidates without success and had used various service providers on a results-oriented basis. By preparing a detailed profile of requirements and devising an individual recruitment strategy we immediately began identifying and approaching suitable candidates both directly and via our existing networks within the industry. Six weeks after receiving the commission we presented our client with a list of candidates who we deemed to be suitable following a multistage qualitative selection and interview process. We then actively assisted our client throughout the selection process and also supported the candidates through the Assessment Centre. Today our client’s new recruit is a department head who can look back on a successful change management process as well as the successful completion of a wide-ranging outsourcing project.

• Client sector: Retail
• Number of specialists sought: 1
• Research methods employed by Hays Expert Recruiting: Pool and direct approach
• Outcome: The position was filled within three months