The Challenge
Our client was a UK-based engineering group seeking to recruit a Managing Director for their subsidiary in Sri Lanka.
The role is a technically demanding one, with potential candidates currently based all over the world.
It is also unusual. Sri Lanka is a beautiful country, and has had international residents. But it is not a common move for Europeans, nor has it a ready-made ‘ex pat’ community.
Our Solution
Our world-class, international research capability was able to identify an excellent long-list of candidates. We interviewed people across four time zones, and found several with the right mix of industry experience and technical capability.
But it was the short-listing stage which brought out the differences.
We identified with the client, early on, the kind of attitudes and personal qualities required to succeed. There is considerable geographical challenge in the role, and a pioneering spirit is as important as a first class CV.
So we developed a process to test motivation and resilience, as well as technical skills, and were able to present a range of candidates to the selection panel.
The Result
A truly international result. The candidate was a German national previously based in New Delhi, and has settled in with great enthusiasm and sensitivity – both to the role, and to Sri Lanka.