Selected executive search assignments

The client needed a leader with experience running an industrial business, full P&L responsibility, and engagement with government bodies across Central Asia. The local market offered a limited pool of candidates at the required scale, so the search was extended internationally.

Outcome: The candidate was sourced from an international industrial company and started in the role 46 days after the initial client briefing.

The client was looking for a plant director with a track record of improving production efficiency, managing technical functions, and leading a workforce of 500+ employees. Most local candidates lacked experience running production at the required scale.

Outcome: A candidate with international manufacturing experience was identified and relocated, starting 41 days after the initial client briefing.

The role called for a chief engineer experienced in operating complex industrial equipment, upgrading production lines, and leading the engineering function. The pool of qualified candidates was very narrow given the combination of technical depth and management experience required.

Outcome: The candidate was sourced from a competitor and joined the client 37 days after the initial briefing.

The client needed a leader able to take ownership of production, technical services, logistics, and operational efficiency simultaneously. Most candidates had strong expertise in only one of the required areas.

Outcome: Following an international search, a leader with a track record of operations transformation was hired, joining the client 44 days after the initial briefing.

The client was looking for a leader with hands-on Lean and Continuous Improvement experience and a track record of large-scale efficiency programs. Specialists at this level are rarely available in the Central Asian market, so the search was primarily conducted abroad.

Outcome: An international candidate was engaged and relocated to Central Asia, starting 48 days after the initial briefing.

The client needed a technology leader able to oversee product development, architecture, infrastructure, and a fast-growing engineering team at the same time. Strong local candidates were in high demand and typically weighing several offers at once.

Outcome: The CTO was sourced from an international technology company and started 39 days after the initial briefing.

The key requirement was experience scaling distributed engineering teams and building engineering processes for a fast-growing product. Locally, there were almost no specialists with experience managing teams of this size.

Outcome: A candidate with international engineering management experience was identified, joining the company 43 days after the initial briefing.

The client needed a CIO with experience leading digital transformation at a large company, implementing ERP systems, and managing complex IT infrastructure. The key challenge was finding someone who combined deep technical expertise with direct business-function experience.

Outcome: The candidate was sourced from a major international organization and started 36 days after the initial briefing.

The role required a technical leader experienced in designing high-load systems and leading a transition from monolithic to distributed architecture. The number of specialists with this experience in Central Asia was limited.

Outcome: Following an international search, a candidate who agreed to relocate was selected, starting 45 days after the initial briefing.

The client was looking for a leader able to build the Data & AI function almost from scratch while tying technology projects directly to business financial results. Competition for talent at this level was especially high from banks, fintechs, and international technology companies.

Outcome: A leader with international experience building data functions was engaged, starting 47 days after the initial briefing.

The client needed an FMCG leader with full P&L ownership, responsible for commercial strategy, distribution, and building the local team. The shortlist included both local leaders and candidates with international experience running emerging markets.

Outcome: The successful candidate was sourced from an international FMCG company and started 42 days after the initial briefing.

The client was looking for a commercial director with strong experience in modern trade and traditional trade, distributor management, and developing several countries in the region at once. The market offered few candidates combining strategic-level thinking with deep knowledge of local trade.

Outcome: The leader was identified among the client's direct competitors and started 35 days after the initial briefing.

The client needed a full-cycle Supply Chain director with experience in demand planning, procurement, and warehouse and transport logistics at a large FMCG company. The pool of suitable candidates was limited by the combined requirements of business scale, international experience, and regional knowledge.

Outcome: The first candidate was hired and started 44 days after the initial briefing. During the engagement it became clear the candidate was overqualified — the scale of change they were driving significantly exceeded the business's current readiness — so under the guarantee we replaced them and placed a new candidate within 32 days.

The client needed a marketing director with experience managing multiple FMCG brands, significant budgets, and adapting global strategy to the Central Asian market. Most strong candidates were not actively job-seeking and required a direct Executive Search approach.

Outcome: The candidate was successfully engaged from another international FMCG company and started 38 days after the initial briefing.

The search required a combination of experience managing multiple production sites, improving OEE and quality, and reducing product cost. Few candidates in the region had already managed production at a comparable scale.

Outcome: The client selected a foreign candidate with multi-plant management experience, who relocated and started 48 days after the initial briefing.

The owners needed a CEO with experience running a large retail chain, scaling the business, and full accountability for financial performance. The local market offered a limited number of leaders who had already run a chain of the required size.

Outcome: A candidate from an international retail company was engaged, starting 45 days after the initial briefing.

The client was looking for a leader to overhaul key business processes, automate operations, and improve efficiency across stores and the head office. Few specialists combined experience transforming a large retail chain with an understanding of emerging-market specifics.

Outcome: The first candidate was hired and started 41 days after the initial briefing. It later became clear the candidate was overqualified: the level of transformation they were prepared to drive significantly outpaced the company's current maturity, so under the guarantee we replaced them and placed a new leader within 28 days.

The client needed a leader able to manage the operations of a large store network, regional directors, and key retail performance metrics. The main challenge was finding a candidate with proven experience managing a fast-growing chain across several regions at once.

Outcome: A suitable leader was sourced from a competing chain and started 34 days after the initial briefing.

The client was looking for a leader able to bring together category management, procurement, pricing, promotions, and commercial analytics. Few specialists in the local market had managed all of these functions at the scale of a major retailer.

Outcome: The candidate was identified through direct search and started 40 days after the initial briefing.

The role required a leader experienced in building e-commerce, mobile products, loyalty programs, and unifying online and offline channels for a major retailer. Candidates with a completed transformation of this scale were practically nonexistent in the Central Asian market.

Outcome: A candidate with international retail experience was engaged, agreed to relocate, and started 46 days after the initial briefing.