Pain Points & Risks
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Lack of decision-ready data for strategy, investments and overall financial steering
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Insufficient planning and forecasting quality
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High risk of misinformed decisions due to limited transparency
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Complex stakeholder setup involving the CEO, Board of Directors and Executive Committee
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Strong time pressure: placement required within a maximum of four months
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“Unknown unknowns” at board level: the required CFO profile was initially not clearly definable
Objectives
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Appoint a CFO capable of steering cost optimization in a targeted and effective manner
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Establish professional planning processes and ensure sound strategic investment decisions
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Enable financing for future growth and transformation initiatives
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Stabilize the Executive Committee and Board of Directors and restore trust in the finance function
Our Approach: Creating a Competitive Advantage for the Client
Differentiation in the Market
We deliberately positioned ourselves outside traditional search patterns:
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Profile clarification based on market benchmarks: We helped the Board understand what can realistically be expected from the CFO market
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Combined candidate pool: Top CFOs from within the industry complemented by CFO profiles from adjacent industries, bringing higher maturity and broader perspectives
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Stakeholder integration: We worked closely with the CEO, Board and Executive Committee and became an integral part of the leadership team throughout the process
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Transparent planning & accountability: Structured reporting, clear milestones and continuous expectation management
The result:
For the first time, the client experienced a fully managed CFO search process with clear benchmarks, transparency and decision-making speed.
Integrating Market Insight into Profile Development
- Offering & Mandate Definition:
We used calibrated questions to identify what the Board truly needed:
“Which decisions are you currently unable to make because the relevant data is missing?”
“What risks arise if we appoint someone who is operationally strong but insufficiently strategic?”
These questions helped sharpen the profile—and build trust.
- Profile Clarification & Expectation Management
We clearly outlined what realistic candidate profiles can deliver and where natural expectation limits lie.
- Tactical Empathy:
The Board and Executive Committee held differing perspectives. We explicitly reflected these uncertainties to establish a shared decision-making foundation:
“It sounds as though the uncertainty is less about the individual and more about the absence of a clear steering model.”
4. Managing Objections (Candidates & Client)
Top-tier CFOs demonstrated a high need for security, particularly when considering a move into a similar role.
We conducted close, fact-based dialogues around compensation, LTI/STI trade-offs and timing—always aligned with the respective interests of candidates and client.
Search & Selection Process
Approach:
- Targeted research within the industrial engineering sector and adjacent industries
- Identification of top-tier CFOs with a proven value-creation mindset
- Parallel outreach to experienced private-equity-backed CFOs
- Structured shortlist based on objective performance criteria
Selection Criteria:
Hard Factors:
- PE‑Experience
- Deep FP&A expertise
- Strong value-driver orientation
- Experience in CAPEX management and financing topics
Soft Factors:
- High emotional intelligence
- Robust and confident communication style
- Ability to lead both the Board of Directors and the CEO simultaneously
- High speed in decision-making and execution
Challenges:
- Top-tier CFOs are well compensated and generally risk-averse
- High expectations at board level
- Cultural fit with the organization was a critical success factor
Key Moment:
When the Board of Directors and Executive Committee reviewed the shortlist, one thing became clear:
The quality of the candidates exceeded expectations—the decision was challenging not due to a lack of options, but because all three profiles were exceptionally strong.
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Result & Client Impact
Placement:
100% within the target corridor — contract signed within four months
Final CFO Profile:
- Strong private equity background
- Pronounced value-creation mindset
- High leadership capability
- Clear emotional intelligence and strong stakeholder authority
Impact & Improvements:
- Measurably improved forecast quality
- Structured CAPEX planning
- Optimized working capital management
- More stable communication with banks and investors
- Successful financing of strategic projects
- Significantly increased decision-making and execution speed
- Noticeable stabilization of both the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors
Core Value Delivered:
We enabled the client to define, for the first time, a CFO profile precisely aligned with its strategic requirements. Through our market benchmarks, the Board gained clarity, confidence and speed in decision-making.
The result: a CFO who measurably strengthened the company’s financial steering capability.
Lessons Learned
Key Takeaways for Other Clients:
- A clear, market-validated target profile prevents mis-hires.
- Speed is achievable when the Board and Executive Committee are fully aligned.
- Private equity experience brings a value-driver focus often lacking in traditional industrial environments.
- Blue-ocean sourcing unlocks candidates not accessible through standard search approaches.
- Structure, transparency and tactical empathy build trust across all stakeholder groups.
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Client Quote:
“We never thought we would be able to make a decision this quickly. In the end, we were faced with the challenge of choosing between three outstanding candidates.”
