MDM Consultants had the pleasure of partnering with Hampshire Trust Bank (HTB) to assist them in securing a director-level candidate for a strategically important role responsible delivering and shaping their Target Operating Model whilst meeting the business and technology demands of the firm going through a period of high growth. HTB engaged MDM to conduct a comprehensive and dedicated retained search for this unique opportunity requiring an exceptional person that was a perfect fit for the challenge and culture of the firm.
This success story covers the retained search process for the recruitment of a Director of Business Design.
Challenge
HTB is a dynamic and innovative Bank going through a truly exciting period of growth. With a strong commitment to providing tailored banking solutions and exceptional customer service, they have established themselves as a trusted partner for businesses and individuals alike.
MDM Consultants was hired on a retained search basis by HTB to recruit a Director of Business Design. This strategically critical role had certain unique characteristics to the firm and will play a crucial role in driving their business design initiatives, fostering innovation and forging their Target Operating Model across the entire firm.
For this strategic and senior hire the client opted for a Retained Search process to ensure that they would get access to all the potential talent in the market. The nature of the role meant there would be a limited pool of candidates and HTB recognised the need for MDM’s specialist Search Capabilities.
Approach
The search mandate required identifying an exceptional candidate who possessed a blend of strategic thinking, business understanding, and design expertise. Being a unique and senior role, a contingent process would not have given HTB the assurance that they were hiring the best candidate available to them in the market at this time. MDM applied their proven search methodology providing HTB with full transparency to the process every step of the way.
During the course of the search process, there was an internal development which led to a change in reporting line. This required MDM to refresh the target list and approach the newly identified candidate list. As the clients’ strategic objectives evolved, we recognised the need to adapt our approach to align with their changing requirements. Our team swiftly adjusted the search criteria and refined the selection process to ensure that we continued to identify the most suitable candidates for this critical position.
Given the uncommon nature of the Director of Business Design role, we encountered certain difficulties during the search process. The scarcity of candidates with the specific skill set and experience required for this unique role presented a challenge.
However, our dedicated consultants leveraged their extensive networks, industry expertise, and proactive approach to overcome these obstacles. We engaged in targeted outreach, tapped into niche talent pools, and conducted thorough assessments to identify a pool of exceptional candidates.
We conducted in-depth research and utilised our network to identify a long list of highly qualified professionals who demonstrated the necessary qualifications and experience. The retained search process involved a comprehensive and professional Headhunt of the entire long list.
Following an assessment of the brief and communication with the client, we carefully narrowed down the long list to a shortlist of exceptional candidates who displayed a strong alignment with the client’s specific requirements and organisational culture. From this shortlist, we then organised several interviews, whilst continuing our search to uncover any hidden talent in the market.
After multiple successful interviews with senior management, the organisation decided to proceed with an offer to an outstanding candidate whose experience aligned with the requirements of the job and who our client envisioned a successful future with as part of the business.
Results
Through our strategic approach and diligent efforts, we developed a long list of 132 candidates. Which was then hand-selected to provide a shortlist of 33 exceptional candidates for the Director of Business Design role. These candidates possessed a diverse range of backgrounds, skills, and experiences, ensuring that our client had a robust selection of individuals to consider. Our collaborative partnership with the client empowered them to make a well-informed hiring decision that would drive their business design initiatives forward and contribute to their continued growth and success.
The retained search engagement highlighted the value of our adaptive approach, comprehensive search process, and industry expertise. By overcoming challenges, refining our search criteria, and presenting a shortlist of exceptional candidates, MDM Consultants facilitated the successful recruitment of a strategic leader who will contribute to HTB’s ongoing innovation and organisational development.
MDM Consultants is proud to have partnered with HTB on this critical search.
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Partner with MDM Consultants
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MDM is proud to have a 100% success rate in delivering Retained Searches. We would be honoured to have the opportunity to show you the benefits of working Retained. Reach out to us today to hear back from a member of our talent team.