Leadership Placements in North America: Selected Case Studies
A selection of mandates across North America — each documented by starting situation, search approach, and outcome.
From CEO succession to full leadership team buildouts.
Real engagements, presented anonymously.
Building for Growth and Exit Readiness in North America
From Near-Zero U.S. Presence to a $70M+ Exit — in Two Years
Building a scalable U.S. organization as the foundation for a successful and profitable exit.
- The U.S. leadership structure was built out within 11 months — from placing a key commercial role to securing a well-regarded industry CEO and establishing a scalable leadership architecture.
- The leadership structure in place drove market credibility, strengthened investor confidence, and created the conditions for a successful and profitable exit within approximately two years.
From $500,000 to $150M+ — Building and Scaling a U.S. Subsidiary
New division of a soolar energy project developer — strong market potential, but a leadership team that lacked the credibility and acceptance needed to succeed in the North American market
- Full leadership reset: a new CEO placed and a five-person team built out within four months.Full leadership reset: a new CEO placed and a five-person team built out within four months.
- The U.S. subsidiary scaled from under $500,000 to approximately $130–150 million in revenue within two years, and was subsequently acquired by an engineering and construction group.
Succession & Leadership Transition
CEO Succession in the U.S. with a Concurrent Site Relocation
U.S. subsidiary of a European medical technology company — added complexity from a simultaneous CEO succession and operational site relocation to Texas.
- A COO was placed with a clearly defined CEO succession path, ensuring operational stability and regulatory continuity throughout the relocation.
- Twelve months after joining, the COO stepped into the CEO role — with no operational disruption and full regulatory and organizational continuity maintained throughout the site transition.
CEO succession and organizational restructuring
The long-serving managing director of the U.S. subsidiary of a European manufacturer of sawing technology and production equipment announced his retirement to the shareholders. For the owner family, this created the need for a structured CEO succession, under clear time pressure.
Finance Organization North America
CFO North America.
International industrial group with a Global parent company and multiple North American locations.
- Full accountability for the North American sites, including the establishment of consolidated reporting and control structures aligned with the German parent.
- The role was initially defined as Executive Vice President Finance North America, with a mandate to strengthen regional transparency, reporting, and governance. As the organization evolved, the candidate was promoted to CFO North America following his appointment — taking on responsibility for Finance, Controlling, IT, and Risk Management.
Interim stabilization and dual leadership appointment in the U.S. finance function Interim stabilization and dual leadership appointment in the U.S. finance function in der Finance-Funktion USA
From a failed retained search to reliable cost accounting and transatlantic governance
Sales Organization North America
Introducing a New Structure to Stabilize the North American Organization
International industrial group in the connector technology sector, facing organizational challenges across its North American operations.
- A new leadership structure was introduced to retain key executives while adding new talent to restructure and stabilize the organization.
- The new leadership structure also reduced the reliance on a single key leader after the previous CEO underperformed
Operational Stabilization
Rural manufacturing site of an automotive supplier — facing both operational and structural challenges.
Stabilization and reorganization of an underperforming production facility in a rural U.S. location.
- Stabilization and reorganization of an underperforming production facility in a rural U.S. location.
- A seasoned Plant Manager with turnaround expertise was placed to restore process stability and profitability, and to realign the site with the expectations of the European parent company.
Are you planning to fill a leadership position, arrange a succession, or restructure your organization in North America?
In a confidential discussion, we will explore alternative approaches and decision-making options.