The Project
A leading $1.2 billion multinational corporation in the orthopedics sector engaged us to conduct a strategic executive search for a Vice President, Corporate Controller. This senior leadership position was critical to the company’s ongoing growth and operational effectiveness. The successful candidate would oversee global revenue operations, financial reporting, compliance, financial planning & analysis (FP&A), mergers and acquisitions (M&A), investor relations, and forecasting.
Given the complex multinational structure and the company’s growth ambitions, the client required a candidate with a proven global leadership record, strong financial expertise, and the ability to manage and develop diverse international teams. The role demanded both deep technical knowledge and excellent stakeholder management skills across multiple regions.
Our Recommendation
Our search was conducted through a detailed three-phase process:
1. Leadership Discovery & Role Definition
We began by working closely with the client’s executive team to thoroughly understand their strategic goals, company culture, and specific leadership requirements. This phase ensured a comprehensive definition of the Vice President Corporate Controller role, including key responsibilities, leadership competencies, and success metrics aligned with the organisation’s global ambitions.
2. Search Strategy & Candidate Mapping
Building on this foundation, we executed a targeted search strategy leveraging our extensive networks within the orthopedics and finance sectors. We conducted a global candidate mapping exercise, identifying and assessing professionals with the required financial leadership expertise, international experience, and a strong track record managing multinational teams. This resulted in a long list of 46 high-calibre candidates.
3. Interview & Selection Process
The selection process was thorough and multi-layered, comprising five interview stages involving senior executives and key stakeholders. This process evaluated technical skills, cultural fit, and strategic alignment. From a strong talent pool, we shortlisted five standout candidates, each carefully assessed against the role’s requirements. One of these candidates was ultimately hired. Throughout the process, we facilitated ongoing communication with both the client and candidates to maintain transparency and ensure a smooth, collaborative experience.
Results Delivered
Time to Placement: 8 weeks
Successful Candidate Profile:
- The appointed executive possessed extensive global financial leadership experience within multinational organisations.
- They demonstrated a proven track record in overseeing complex revenue operations, FP&A, M&A, investor relations, and forecasting at scale.
- The candidate exhibited strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to lead and develop diverse international teams, aligning perfectly with the client’s strategic growth objectives.