Identifying Senior Leadership Talent across Europe

Chameleon International first begun to work with this CDMO client over 5 years ago. The specialist contract (CMO) sector, valued at approximately $80billion and characterised through M&A, is defined by quality, pace, competition and high levels of client centricity.

Chameleon were tasked with supporting the client at a crucial point following a $1.5billion P.E backed merger in which they acquired a number of sites in need of sufficient upgrade. Most sites across the network had grown organically or made quick hires from the local area and the clients was keen to use a search partner to challenge this.

Critical to their talent agenda was the interest in highly skilled, seasoned individuals who had lived and worked outside of the countries of their origin.  The Client wanted to target candidates with strong international diversity for their global SLT (200+ profiles) and that an injection of highly mobile, well-travelled experience from non-pharmaceutical “best-in-class” industries would provide the future thought leadership of the business. Key here, however, was finding and presenting those individuals who had experienced turmoil and explicit site transformation within these industry verticals.

We further sought to locate those with a competitive edge who could work at pace and demonstrate strong examples of talent development to protect the future of the site.

A few example hires where we took this approach ;

• General Manager API Site 700 FTE+
• General Manager Soft Gels Site 300 FTE+
• Group Operational Excellence Director – 22 sites
• Site Quality Director, 800 FTE+
• Site Quality Director, 300 FTE+
• Supply Chain Director 800 FTE+
• HR Director 800 FTE+
• Operations Director, 300 FTE+

The success within the relationship has lead to Chameleon being rewarded as the Client’s default, preferred supplier for all hiring at Site Manager and Site Leadership team level. Crucial to our success has been building relationships at multiple levels across the organisation and meeting and speaking with all relevant stakeholders, from Talent Acquisition to Site GM to Global VP HR to discuss and present our approach.  We have set about acting as a true brand ambassador and have brought the story of a high-growth CMO to the market.