Sector: Consumer Services

Location: UK

The Challenge

Our client, a widely recognised household name in the consumer services sector, was entering a new phase of digital transformation. As part of this evolution, they had created a newly defined leadership role within their technology team, one that did not yet have clear precedents in their industry. This created a dual challenge: identifying individuals with transferable expertise capable of shaping the new role and understanding the appropriate compensation benchmarks in a market where the role did not yet exist in comparable organisations.

What we delivered

We partnered closely with the client’s Chief Information Officer to shape and execute a research-led, insight-driven search process.

Through an in-depth briefing with the CIO, we gained a clear understanding of the broader strategic intent behind the role. This allowed us to separate essential capabilities from “nice-to-haves” and build a profile that aligned both with the company’s needs and the evolving expectations of top-tier tech talent.

Given the role’s novelty, we recommended a more informal, consultative recruitment process. This enabled early conversations with candidates to explore how their experience could translate and gave the client the opportunity to shape the role iteratively based on real market feedback.

Alongside talent mapping, we delivered insights on expected compensation ranges for similarly scoped roles across adjacent sectors. This helped the client confidently position the role in the market to attract high-quality candidates.

Outcomes

We presented a thoughtfully selected group of candidates and provided the client with clear recommendations on suitability based on technical fit, leadership potential, and cultural alignment.

By working closely with the CIO and being transparent with candidates about the evolving nature of the role, we maintained momentum and alignment throughout the process. Regular feedback loops ensured that the search stayed strategically relevant.

Ultimately, our work enabled the successful appointment of a candidate who brought both the technical insight and leadership qualities needed to shape this new role. Additionally, the insights gathered during the process helped the client clarify the long-term purpose and scope of the role within the broader tech function.