Harmonic Executive

The Client

The City & Guilds Group stands at the forefront of global skills development, offering tailored services to address the demands of the contemporary workforce. As a non-profit organisation with a remarkable £200 million turnover, they annually certify over two million individuals across 24 industry sectors within the UK and extend their reach to over 100 countries worldwide.

The Role

We were looking for an accomplished Chief Financial Officer with a proven track record in leading technological innovation and successfully navigating the global expansion journey within a rapidly growing company. In close collaboration with the CEO and top executives, this CFO would lead the charge in propelling City & Guilds to the forefront of its industry.

The CFO's job was to help the CEO navigate the complex financial and business challenges of their transformation journey. Their knowledge would provide important guidance for the company's strategic decisions and help them navigate towards a better future.

What we did

Our executive search process spanned a duration of 12 weeks. Throughout this period, we created an executive timeline to keep both the executive team and board informed about the role's progress. We took the time to map the market, encompassing public, private, and third sectors, to identify the most relevant candidates.

To engage candidates, we produced a candidate pack that was sent out to potential applicants. As we narrowed down the list to the shortlisted individuals, we presented our clients with detailed candidate profiles, offering fortnightly updates, comprehensive data reports, feedback on their brand perception, and insights into diversity and inclusion strategies and data.

The outcome

The CFO we placed has had a significant impact at City & Guilds so far and has proven to be an excellent cultural fit for the team. They have already started implementing the strategic vision and guiding the financial transformation. Their expertise in financial management and commercial strategy has enabled substantial investments in growth initiatives.