VP Human Resources, Latin America

Company

This large US multinational corporation is a diversified industrial manufacturing and advanced technology leader. It is known for its long history of innovation and continues to transform and expand across industries. It is complex and highly matrixed, with over 100,000 employees globally. Latin America is a key growth region for the company. Mexico City is the regional headquarters. ChapmanCG was asked to find a new regional head of HR for this urgent search.

Challenge

Reporting to the International Head of Human Resources, a new Vice President Human Resources, Latin America was needed to help take the business to its next level of success. The expectation was that this role would lead a large HR team, build robust HR capability, create best-in-class programmes, and drive continuous improvement for strategic recurring growth. There had been a much-loved incumbent in the role who was popular and well-respected by the local team in Mexico, but who was unable to drive regional HR organisation forward for the future. As a result, this company needed a local, Spanish speaking hire who had broad regional experience and world-class standards. The Talent Acquisition team had covered a lot of ground but had been unable to identify and secure the right individual and for this reason the search had become both problematic and urgent.

Search Methodology

Traditional executive search methodologies including heavy market mapping were used. However, given the urgency, we relied equally on the ChapmanCG HR network in Mexico and Latin America to find fast short cuts to experienced and qualified HR talent—both active and passive candidates. The individual who the client eventually hired was identified within the first week of the search and had been recommended to us by a trusted and well-respected regional HR leader. Despite the early identification of a highly compelling candidate, we ensured that a full shortlist (which included minimum 3 exceptional options) made it through to final interviews with the CEO.

Outcome

This entire search took approximately 4 weeks from start to finish. It had previously sat open for approximately 200 days.

The candidate who was ultimately hired possessed a tenure (and progression) through one of the largest companies in the region. He was used to working with scale and complexity. He had Board experience and was trusted confidant to a very well-respected CHRO. He previously led Latin America HR teams of more than 500 and employee populations of 40,000+.

The success of this search was largely due to ChapmanCG’s specialist approach (we only conduct HR searches) with deep expertise in emerging and rapid growth geographies. Because of this, we can zero in immediately on top talent and referrals in the HR space, which ultimately expedites the process because we have a global, borderless, and trusted network. We have known these leaders over decades, having followed and played a role in their career moves.