Background

Our client is one of the largest privately-owned GCC property developers with offices in Dubai, Saudi, Bahrain and Kuwait. They were looking to hire several c-level executives to assist them in moving to an IPO business model. Cooper fitch was assigned to work on the following positions on a committed and retained model: 3 CEOs, 2 general managers, along with an advisor to a CEO and an HR director. One of the CEOs needed to be an Emirati national, and one CEO position needed to be a Saudi national.

Challenges

The searches where highly confidential for several reasons. The company was working towards going public, and as such, they did not want their recruitment plans advertised as this may create a level of uncertainty about the company on the market. Cooper fitch was asked not to reveal the name of the client to candidates until they were shortlisted for client stage interviewing, however, given the seniority and complexity of the positions, candidates who were qualified, and therefore in-demand were reluctant to consider a new opportunity without the details of the organisation. This caused a challenge in winning the trust of qualified candidates

Approach

This project was appointed as an exclusive and retained model. Cooper fitch assigned a project director to act as a single point of contact with our client. The project director was assigned to work on the project on a full-time basis along with two other dedicated cooper fitch recruitment experts. Cooper fitch provided a full service which included search strategies, competency-based interviewing and skill assessment, and remuneration negotiations. Our consultants were fully engaged with our clients’ needs from a cultural and technical perspective.

Outcomes

Cooper Fitch successfully filled all seven roles assigned across the UAE, KSA and Bahrain. The project was delivered from search to offers of employment within ten weeks. Cooper fitch remains the organisation’s exclusive recruitment partner for all hiring needs and has since completed several recruitment assignments from mid to senior level across all of their operating locations.

If you are interested in our recruitment, executive search and HR advisory services and would like to know more about our previous and ongoing projects. Contact us, and we would be happy to discuss in detail.