CASE STUDY 
Operations Director 

Brief

Our client, a leading Tier 1 automotive plastic components manufacturer in Slovakia, tasked us with filling a critical Operations Director role. This position had been open for over eight months before we were approached, reflecting its high importance within the company. Not only is this role responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations, but it also plays a pivotal role in the company's long-term leadership, with a clear path toward the General Manager (GM) role within 2-4 years.

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The search required us to find a candidate who could manage complex manufacturing processes while demonstrating significant financial acumen, especially in profit and loss (P&L) management, a skill set not commonly found at this level of operational leadership. The ideal candidate needed to seamlessly blend operational excellence with financial oversight to meet the business's ambitious targets.

 

Our Process

Recognizing the complexity of the role, we implemented a multi-faceted approach to ensure we identified candidates with the required blend of technical and financial skills:

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• We targeted professionals in automotive plastics manufacturing, emphasizing the need for experience in managing highly complex production lines and continuous improvement initiatives.

• A significant part of our focus was on candidates with experience managing P&L, ensuring they could make informed financial decisions, manage costs, and optimize profitability.

• We extended our search across Eastern Europe and into broader European markets to ensure the widest pool of talent and engaged candidates with a proven history of both operational leadership and financial management.

 

Our process included detailed screening and targeted headhunting, focusing on candidates who were not only capable of overseeing the plant’s day-to-day operations but could also drive the site’s long-term financial performance.

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Challenges

Several key challenges were identified during the search:

• Extended Vacancy: With the role having been open for over eight months, there was significant urgency to find someone capable of making a rapid impact both operationally and financially.

• Unique Skill Set: The combination of operational expertise in plastics manufacturing and deep financial involvement was rare at this level. Many operations leaders possess strong technical skills but lack comprehensive P&L management experience.

• Long-Term Vision: The role requires not only immediate operational leadership but also strategic foresight to grow into the GM position within 2-4 years, ensuring that the plant can thrive in the long term.

 

Result

The search for the Operations Director is still ongoing. We have, however, made significant progress and presented the client with a shortlist of strong candidates who possess the necessary technical and financial expertise. Each candidate has demonstrated extensive experience in managing complex manufacturing processes and P&L accountability, ensuring they can drive both operational efficiency and financial success.

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We continue to work closely with the client to refine the search and are confident that the right candidate will be placed soon, delivering the leadership and expertise needed to transform the plant’s operations and secure its long-term strategic goals. This ongoing search demonstrates our commitment to finding the best possible candidates for high-impact roles, even when faced with challenging skill set requirements.