CASE STUDY

Finding the right Chair

Situation

The largest active asset manager globally (outside the USA) had been formed through the merger of two industry-leading players, each with different cultures and heritage. A Chairman was required who could bring a truly international perspective and the requisite personal authority to help meld the two cultures together, restore investor confidence, and stem continuous outflows from client funds in the business.

Approach

A search was conducted across Europe as well as the UK comprising:

• Individuals of stature drawn from across the financial services industry

• A breadth of candidates who also satisfied a strong diversity agenda

• Previous CEO / executive leadership credentials: as well as remaining ‘current’, also bringing additional non-executive board experience

Impact

The search coverage comprised well-qualified and diverse individuals drawn from banking, insurance and exchanges as well as the investment industry itself. The demands of the role required candidates to make it their cornerstone appointment. As well as further cementing the constituent parts of the merged platform, a central requirement was to develop a new strategy and vision for the organisation, and so enable it to compete effectively with the largest and best players in the industry worldwide. The successful candidate brought consummate Chairman credentials, having previously held leadership responsibilities at one of the largest financial services organisations globally, as well as possessing expert insights into the various international markets served by the organisation.