Case Study: Recruiting a Managing Director for a Specialist Retailer

The Client

A privately owned UK-based specialist retailer with over 30 years in its sector. The company distributes leading brands, has a £3m annual turnover, and targets a niche market. It sought a Managing Director to drive growth from UK and international markets and improve digital marketing and operations.

The Challenge

The client required a Managing Director with strong operational expertise and strategic leadership skills. The role demanded experience in scaling businesses, hands-on operational management, e-commerce expertise, and stakeholder relationship management.

Our Approach

1. Role Planning: Collaborated with the client to refine job specification and define objectives.
2. Talent Search: Identified candidates from niche retail, e-commerce, and aligned industries. Prioritised leaders experienced in strategic growth while maintaining operational efficiency.
3. Candidate Assessment: Conducted screening and behavioral interviews to evaluate technical and leadership capabilities.
4. Shortlist Presentation: Provided candidates aligned with the company’s objectives and culture.

Finding the Right Fit

We targeted high-performing leaders in niche retail and related industries, focusing on those with experience in improving operations, building high-performing teams, and implementing digital marketing strategies. Using our network and advanced search tools, we identified candidates with proven success in both day-to-day business management and long-term strategic initiatives. Each candidate was rigorously assessed against the client’s requirements through tailored interviews and scenario testing, ensuring alignment with both immediate goals and future scalability plans.

Understanding the Market

Our market research revealed strong competition for digitally-savvy leaders in specialist retail. Many candidates had expertise limited to either operations or strategy, but not both. We focused on identifying jobseekers with hands-on leadership experience who also had a proven track record in driving growth through digital transformation and market expansion.

Conclusion

We sourced and placed a Managing Director who met the client’s exact needs and aligned with their growth vision. For tailored executive recruitment, contact us.

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