Food company hires new GM for pet division
A major food company hired Mandrake to find a General Manager with consumer packaged goods experience to oversee the operations of a newly acquired division. We found an excellent candidate who was eventually promoted to VP Marketing then COO of the parent company’s Canadian division.
Challenge
Our client, a consumer packaged goods company, was looking to hire a General Manager for an operating division it recently acquired. The ideal candidate needed strong consumer packaged goods experience as they become responsible for developing and executing marketing and sales strategies for all the division’s products. Strong operational and change management skills were also essential, as the GM would need to oversee the assimilation of the division into the company’s general operations.
Mandrake's Approach
We conducted a thorough search for individuals with classic consumer marketing skills, trade marketing, and general management experience. We also targeted individuals with a track record of leading cross functional business teams. Our search was complicated by the company’s previous reputation as a less preferred employer. The company was eager to change this reputation, and we were pleased to help in this regard.
Best Results
We found an excellent candidate with extensive consumer and trade marketing experience who felt up to the challenge of managing the assimilation of this newly acquired division. In addition, this individual was a great fit for the company’s succession plan. Subsequently, they went on to run the Canadian division of the company as COO.
What our client had to say
“My experience with Bill highlighted a range of characteristics that put him at the absolute top of the search industry. Bill demonstrated a professionalism that is truly a cut above. He is highly experienced, knowledgeable, patient and sincere. He offered a range of opportunities and took the time to provide meaningful background information to better prepare me for the interview process and to better evaluate the opportunities in question. He promptly followed up, providing meaningful feedback, subsequently moving the process along at a proactive, but appropriate pace. Ultimately, I found an opportunity that fit me perfectly. Since joining my new company 6 years ago, I have been promoted twice and am now running the Canadian organization. Bill is a true search professional at the top of his industry.” – General Manager, Consumer Packaged Goods
