A classroom solutions provider needed a Business Director to lead growth, sharpen go-to-market, and align sales, marketing and customer success around measurable outcomes for teachers and schools. Networks and advertising had not worked. We were engaged to run an executive search and provide a robust shortlist with clear evidence.
The challenge
- Secure a commercially astute Business Director
- Lead go-to-market across the UK (and selected international markets); drive growth with schools, MATs and local authorities.
- Build and scale sales, marketing and customer success; develop channel partnerships with resellers/distributors.
- Navigate education procurement cycles and frameworks (e.g., MAT buying committees, public-sector tenders); design pilots and impact evidence.
- Optimise pricing, packaging and unit economics; improve forecasting and pipeline health.
- Strengthen operating cadence: quarterly business reviews, OKRs and demand planning with product and operations.
- Deliver a high-quality shortlist quickly.
Our approach
- Calibrated the role, outcomes and success profile with the CEO and COO.
- Ran a targeted headhunt across edtech, classroom resource suppliers, education publishers and adjacent B2B providers to schools; included leaders from PE-backed and growth-stage organisations.
- Mapped and engaged passive candidates: Business Directors/Unit Directors, Commercial Directors, Country Managers and VPs Sales & Marketing with proven delivery in school and MAT channels.
- Each candidate received an evidence-led summary and consistent scorecard; references taken from CEOs, COOs and key education customers. Confidentiality protected throughout.
The result
- Delivered an excellent shortlist within four weeks; offer accepted in six.
- The appointed Business Director had a track record scaling K-12 commercial operations in the UK and Europe, with success across direct and channel routes to market.
- Early outcomes included a focused go-to-market plan, improved forecast accuracy, clearer pricing architecture, MAT framework wins, stronger pipeline coverage, higher classroom adoption and case-study development to evidence impact.
Why it worked
- Headhunting reached high-performing passive leaders from edtech and classroom solutions businesses.
- A clear brief and structured, evidence-led assessment created confidence.
- Tight timelines and CEO sponsorship kept momentum from shortlist to offer.
Contact us
If you are an education technology or classroom solutions organisation hiring a Business Director or commercial leader, we can help you secure proven growth leadership.
Call: 0207 160 6996
Email: info@executiveheadhunters.co.uk
Visit: executiveheadhunters.co.uk
Book a confidential discussion with a Director to plan your search
Read more about our Executive Search Services for Education and Commercial Leadership
Executive Headhunters
0207 160 6996 
