No two assignments are the same at Veredus. Our case studies illustrate the range of assignments that we undertake, as well as highlighting how our consultants approach each assignment differently, seeking to understand the challenges an organisation faces so they can help to deliver the right result.
Transport Practice Success - Greater Anglia Franchise
Overview - Abellio is an international public transport company which delivers bus and rail services to 700,000 passengers daily across the UK, Germany and Czech Republic. With an already strong reputation in the UK through its successful rail businesses Merseyrail and Northern Rail (both 50/50 joint ventures with Serco), Abellio’s operating portfolio was further strengthened having been awarded the Greater Anglia Rail Franchise. The franchise operates main and branch line services including London to Stansted Airport, Cambridge and Kings Lynn and the London-to-Norwich line. This includes rail services to the Stratford hub near the Olympic Park and is one of the busiest commuter routes and an important travel conduit to London’s financial services community.
The Challenge - With the franchise award came the opportunity to shape a dynamic Abellio Greater Anglia (AGA) team of Board Directors, including the creation of three new positions: Asset Management Director – reflecting the fact that AGA is the first franchise to obtain responsibility for the (167) stations within the franchise; Commercial Director – reintroducing this role to reflect the commitment to growth and marketing; and a Human Resource and Quality Assurance Director. Collectively the team is charged with delivering a public transport service that served Abellio’s stakeholders and passengers by improving the quality of life within the communities it operates while consistently exceeding expectations.
Veredus entered into early pre-award resource planning discussions with Abellio; this included scoping and then delivering several interim appointments whilst permanent appointment (‘backfill’) plans were put in place. Following the contract award announcement (October 2011), three concurrent search and selection campaigns were immediately launched; timing considerations were a critical factor mindful that Abellio were to take control of the franchise at the beginning of February (2012). Search criteria focused, in equal measure, at talent attraction both inside and outside of the rail industry including the wider transport / infrastructure markets as well as support service, blue-collar industries. By year end (2011) candidate shortlists for two of the Directors’ roles had been presented resulting in offers being extended and subsequently accepted; the final Director role being successfully concluded in early January 2012.
The Solution - Ruud Haket, who has led the bid and mobilisation team, and who was subsequently appointed as AGA’s Managing Director commented “The Greater Anglia team is strengthened by these new appointments and looks forward to running the regions railway operation to the high standards expected by passengers and staff.”
PA Consulting - Global Energy
Over the last 18 months, Veredus has helped PA Consulting's global energy team add partner capability as well as provide Energy Trading and Risk Management (ETRM) competitor and market intelligence. With less volatile client demand post-GFC, 2010 saw a high level of recruitment activity in the energy consulting market in the UK from partner level down. With tightening budgets for consultancy, consultants with proven ability to business develop had become more important.
Against the backdrop of a fair bit of movement (and at times overheated activity) at partner and director level, we helped PA recruit a new partner in October 2010. In ETRM, which has seen strong growth over the last couple of years (particularly in strategic advisory) what with the Big 4 looking to rebuild/further develop their capability, and the software houses / systems integrators looking to add-on advisory capability; our search work has helped PA's thinking in terms of their ETRM offering and positioning.
Finance Director - Manufacturing
Our client is a leading manufacturer of mass measurement devices and strain gauges for a number of applications. Their Finance Director was moving to a new role within the group and they asked Veredus to help them as we had previously helped with requirements for an Engineering Director and an expatriate Manufacturing Director for their Sri Lankan plant.
This role was based in the UK so, in theory, was easier, but the demands were quite specific. They wanted a Finance Director from a relevant manufacturing background who was also used to managing a disparate team of country based Financial Controllers and Managers across 3 continents.
We thought this was quite a challenge but surprised ourselves with a relevant shortlist of four for the client to meet. They were delighted and appointed someone who was not only relevant but lived within a commute of their UK office in South Wales.
