Our client is one of the top five global automotive and transportation suppliers, a true innovation leader for the automotive OEMs. The company has a significant manufacturing and R&D presence in the Central European region, and leveraging this expertise also provides a wide range of components to its aftermarket customers.

The company is committed to expanding its product offerings and business support services for the independent aftermarket sectors, and also wanted to strengthen its regional coverage in CEE countries.

It became clear that the company needed an experienced professional who would grow the organisation by ensuring a strong focus on quality and delivery, and developing the distribution and marketing strategies over the Central European region.

Having proven our capabilities by successfully filling manufacturing positions for the company, SpenglerFox were asked to support the company’s need in the aftermarket division.

The company’s Western European headquarters team briefed us on the project, and our competences were thoroughly checked. Having gained strong expertise in the CEE aftermarket sector we shared our market view and proposed solutions on how to find the most appropriate candidate in this highly limited and still undeveloped market.

After getting the green light, we implemented the agreed strategy with continuous feedback - particularly necessary in this case, and much appreciated by the line managers, who had previously received very little information on the CEE aftermarket situation and trends.

SpenglerFox’ capabilities and strengths come to the fore when quick results are needed in a regional search. As well as implementing our standard executive search methodology, we used our integrated database and think-tank of regional sector-focused consultants; we consulted our global network to find local candidates currently working abroad; and last but not least, we mobilised our native language researchers in various offices who could locate and address viable candidates in all CEE locations.

Meetings and interviews with appropriate candidates were also managed across different countries.

This was all behind the scenes of course. What the client experienced was a single point of contact, available all the time, channelling all the regional information - just as one would expect of a SpenglerFox engagement!

By managing the complex and often delicate process of assessing candidates, organising interviews in multiple locations and bridging different interests in the final negotiations, we gained a satisfied client and a satisfied candidate.

Proving our capabilities has opened many doors for us with different divisions of the company throughout Europe. But we are not complacent. We continue to learn from our clients’ and candidates’ feedback, and aim to fulfil our next assignments even more effectively.