THE ROLE/ CHALLENGE:
A $120M Specialty Chemicals Company for a Shanghai-Based Affiliate needed to hire a President, to report to the owner of this US based family owned company.
The company has 30 employees and a plant in China but does not have an in-country, effective leader. The President needs to accelerate the company’s growth in China and the Asia/Pacific region. The owner and President agree that they would retain Jim Kuhn to perform the search for the company’s first Managing Director for the region, and the position would be based in Shanghai.
KGT’S STRATEGY:
Jim Kuhn had previously completed a similar search for the company in Europe and several other searches in China for the President’s prior company.
Jim and Beth lead the search from Cleveland without reliance on China-based sourcing resources. Jim and the President agreed that the selection process would take about 6 months, given the owner’s mindset and expectations.
President met top candidate at a global trade show in Europe and owner traveled to Shanghai to meet the finalist candidate. Jim kept the candidate interested and developed back-up candidates right until the finalist accepted the job offer.
THE RESULTS:
Jim and the President communicated constantly during the six-month search and effectively influenced the owner and several long-tenured executives to select the best candidate.
The candidate they selected has been successful and is still with company after 4 years .
