Recruitment of Sourcing Manager in Stockholm (Medical Devices & Technology Company)
2022-04-14
Recruitment Context
Fast-growing industrial automation manufacturer needed to recruit their new Global Operations Director, a key person in a management team and a leader to several key departments in the organization: Strategic Sourcing, Product Development & Industrialization, Global Production Operations, Quality, and Logistics & Customer Service.
The main focus for this person was to develop a sustainable operations strategy for the company that is constantly growing both organically and by acquisitions, leading to a constantly evolving portfolio of products, suppliers, and production units.
This complexity led the client to believe that the most suitable candidate must come with a management consulting background from tier 1 consultancy firms, like McKinsey, BCG, and Bain and local boutique players with strong track record in operations. It was important to find a person with operations practice experience and a track record of projects connected to post-acquisition integration.
Search Methodology
To identify the right candidate, a highly targeted approach was deployed:
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Direct Headhunting – Targeting management consultants from top-tier firms with relevant industry experience.
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PE & Industrial Sector Mapping – Focusing on professionals with a blend of strategic consulting and hands-on operational leadership.
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Network Activation – Leveraging connections within industrial operations and private equity circles to surface high-caliber talent.
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Competency-Based Assessment – Evaluating candidates on strategic problem-solving, leadership capabilities, and execution skills.
Outcome & Impact
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Successful Placement: A former tier-1 management consultant with deep expertise in operations strategy and transformation was hired.
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Strategic Elevation: The new Operations Director introduced a long-term vision and structured execution framework, aligning operations with PE growth targets.
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Enhanced Operational Efficiency: The candidate successfully led key process optimizations, driving cost reductions and performance improvements.
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Strong Stakeholder Engagement: Their ability to bridge strategy with execution gained strong buy-in from both executive leadership and PE stakeholders.
Conclusion
This case highlights the importance of aligning operational leadership with private equity growth ambitions. By targeting management consultants with deep operational expertise, the company secured a high-impact leadercapable of delivering both strategic vision and executional excellence.
