Client
A leading, midlands-based, renewable energy installation business.
OPPORTUNITY
A high profile, ambassadorial board member, willing to engage in pro-active business development activities.
SITUATION
This renewable energy business had grown using a unique staffing model which bordered on a stakeholder enterprise similar to John Lewis Partnership principles.
Its staff, at all levels, were highly engaged in growing the business. Their remote collaboration approach towards work was a beacon for businesses using cloud technologies, with a “work is what you do, not where you are” ethos.
Having experienced exponential growth of 1000% in a single year, the Managing Director, who led business development activities and operational activities, recognised the need to augment his team at board level. He was looking to strengthen corporate governance and maximise business development opportunities at strategic level within the corporate market. He approached Hawker Chase Executive to discuss his situation and discovered that a recent assignment had surfaced profiles that might meet his requirements in terms of creative working flexibility.
SOLUTION
Hawker Chase Executive frequently identify high quality individuals during the course of its Search activities at Director level. Many Directors are actively encouraged to extend their experience outside of existing business and as a result would actively consider Non-Executive Director positions. We also discovered profiles of those who were actively looking to build a portfolio of NED roles, creating variety and maximising existing experience, contacts and knowledge. Many individuals remained flexible to time investment in return for new experience which created an opportunity for the client.
Through its network of contacts, Hawker Chase introduced a high profile, former sports personality with a two year track record of commercial experience “post pitch”; effectively matching career development needs for the candidate and cultural & ethical fit for the client.
Subsequent exploratory discussions meant the offer of a board level position with equity in return for time invested, a sharing of ambassadorial and business development activities, as well as a requirement to contribute to business strategy and take an active part in business growth.
The newly created role carefully balanced the needs of both parties; with the candidate wanting to extend his business career, downplay his former sporting celebrity, and retain and balance existing commercial interests whilst being able to make a substantive business impact on his NED role.
Hawker Chase was able to demonstrate its agility and creativeness in matching the needs of an emerging business at a critical stage of its development.