0207 160 6996 
Executive Search: Chief Operating Officer for a Global Engineering Business
When a long-serving COO announced a surprise retirement, our client engaged us to deliver a world-class successor with international expansion credentials—and fast.
✅ Who This Is For
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Engineering or industrial firms expanding into global markets
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Boards seeking seamless leadership succession with robust handover
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Businesses needing senior operational talent with proven experience scaling internationally
🚧 The Challenge: Urgent Succession with International Growth on the Horizon
Client context:
Our longstanding client, a multi-million pound pan-European engineering business, needed to appoint a new Chief Operating Officer (COO) following an unexpected retirement announcement from the incumbent.
Immediate goals:
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Secure a high-impact successor capable of supporting the company’s next growth chapter
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Facilitate a six-month overlap with the retiring COO to enable structured succession planning
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Appoint a COO with direct experience in international expansion, especially into the US, Middle East, and Asia Pacific markets
Complications:
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Senior COOs typically operate with minimum three-month notice periods
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The retiring COO had been in role for 25 years, making knowledge transfer mission-critical
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The business needed someone who could match their operational scale and ambition for global reach
🎯 Our Executive Search Approach: Succession Meets Strategy
With a strict nine-month window and ambitious international goals, this search required precision, senior-level insight, and meticulous planning.
1. Client Collaboration & Succession Modelling
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Worked closely with the CEO and board to clarify leadership expectations and model what an ideal succession plan looked like
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Prioritised candidates with proven ability to scale operations globally and deliver structured transformation at pace
2. Market Mapping and Talent Benchmarking
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Deployed our specialist research team to identify top-performing COOs in the engineering sector, including direct competitors
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Cross-referenced with high-calibre COOs from other industries with relevant transferable experience in global operations, logistics, and business development
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Maintained active focus on notice periods and flexibility to ensure candidates could meet the required transition timeline
3. Candidate Evaluation and Pre-Negotiation
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Shortlisted based on strategic fit, operational track record, and succession-readiness
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Initiated early-stage discussions around notice period negotiability, relocation (if applicable), and cultural fit
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Integrated psychometric and leadership profiling to assess alignment with our client’s collaborative and innovative culture
🏆 Outcome: Seamless Succession and Global-Scale Ambition
The successful candidate was a seasoned COO from one of our client’s major competitors, with an exceptional record of leading international expansion initiatives and building operational frameworks from scratch.
Why they were the ideal fit:
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Had already led international scaling across similar markets (US, Middle East, Asia Pacific)
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Could confidently navigate both engineering complexity and global logistics
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Was motivated by the opportunity to shape a new strategic chapter and create lasting impact
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Able to negotiate a six-week notice period, allowing for the full six-month handover
“This was a standout placement—not just because of the calibre of candidate, but because of the seamless planning and transition. The business didn’t skip a beat.” — Client feedback
📌 What to Consider When Succession Planning for a Senior COO
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Start early — COO transitions with legacy knowledge require structured overlap
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Look for global operational leadership, not just technical competence
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Early notice period discussions can prevent last-minute deal breakers
📞 Need to Appoint a World-Class COO?
Whether you’re succession planning or preparing to scale globally, we specialise in finding senior operational leaders who deliver real strategic impact.
👉 Call us on 020 7160 6996 for a confidential discussion about how we can help you identify and secure your next Chief Operating Officer.
Let’s ensure your next COO is ready to lead from day one.
