Managing Director, Electronics

The first managing director position we filled was for the sister company of a client for whom we had already filled several divisional head positions, and with whose managing director I had built an excellent working relationship. Both companies were in electronics.

To be honest, I didn’t really want to take on the assignment. The company was a technology leader in an extremely demanding niche – and it was looking for a managing director whose technical expertise was on the same level. Spot the contradiction!

But it was a top company, and the position certainly had its appeal. For the right candidate, it was a dream job. You just had to find that person first – and convince them. It was the proverbial needle in a haystack.

We turned the entire industry upside down: we searched every company we could identify as a possible source for suitable candidates.

In the end, we found the right managing director, but it was a close call.

I can’t help smiling every time I read recruiters’ promises such as “We fill any position within four weeks, replacement guarantee included”. For some positions, you can count yourself lucky to find even one suitable candidate who actually signs in the end.

Afterwards, we recruited several area sales managers and project managers for the new managing director, helping him put his expansion plans into practice.