Client : Sun World. One of the world's largest plant variety breeders and global licensors of premium, proprietary produce
Position: Director of Category Insights
Location: Remote, USA
Model: Exclusive - Retained
Challenges:
- Executive level
- Specialised skill set
- High salary expectations
The Assignment
In the midst of a transformative period at Sun World International, the CEO and recently appointed Chief HR Officer collaborated with LCR International to orchestrate numerous global appointments. The organisation sought the assistance of an executive search firm to play a pivotal role in the essential task of identifying, engaging, evaluating, and appointing a senior leader critical to propelling the company's trajectory.
Sun World was resolute in securing a Senior Leader specialised in Category Insights, entrusted with the mission of cultivating retailer relationships worldwide to gather consumer data and share insights throughout the organization. Recognising LCR International's adeptness in identifying exceptionally qualified candidates, particularly in the intricate field of fruit breeding, Sun World approached Lucy Robinson, the founder of LCR International Ltd, to supervise the comprehensive search and senior hiring process.
The Solution
LCR International Ltd kicked off the exploration process by conducting an exhaustive briefing session with Sun World's senior leadership team. This session played a crucial role in delving into the intricacies of the role and its associated responsibilities, while also outlining the characteristics of the ideal candidate sought by the company. Our endeavours not only involved defining the required profile and competencies but also specifying target companies, considering geographical factors, and establishing a well-defined timeline.
Leveraging our familiarity with the locale and expertise in the fruit breeding sector, we embarked on a comprehensive market exploration to pinpoint all potential candidates capable of meeting the stringent criteria for this specialized role. Following this, we adopted a discreet and highly professional approach in reaching out to each prospective candidate, with meticulous attention to maintaining confidentiality and professionalism throughout the entire process.
In response to Sun World's request, we tactfully engaged individuals from direct competitors, and the company provided LCR with a set of ideal profiles to focus on.
The Result
Following LCR's comprehensive evaluation process, incorporating face-to-face interviews and online assessments, we proficiently curated a condensed list of candidates for Sun World's review. Sun World seamlessly integrated an exceptionally qualified candidate into its team, whose skill set harmoniously matched the company's standards and objectives.
The newly appointed Director of Category Insights promptly demonstrated the expertise required to guide and oversee the function, significantly enhance the company's data-driven insights, and importantly, play a pivotal role in implementing data-driven actions throughout the business.
Timeline (LCR guided the process to offer acceptance within 10 weeks)
Week 1 → Client briefing
Week 2 → Talent Mapping of passive candidates | Proactively approaching the potential candidate pool.
Week 3 → Assessment of candidates and screening interviews by LCR
Week 4 → 1st stage interviews
Week 5 → 2nd stage interviews
Week 6 → Final interview
Week 8 → Offer made to chosen candidate
Week 10 → Offer accepted
