How do you recruit in a new country?

Kennedy success stories of cross border recruiting

The talent war has made it very challenging to hire good talent and this is compounded when you are trying to hire in a different country to where you are based. Hiring managers will know the specific dynamics of their own market but each market has its own unique factors. If a company does not have a track record of recruiting in another country, what do they do? Did you know that you can approach your local Kennedy Executive Search partner in your country and they can help you to recruit in over 20 countries around the world using the Kennedy network?

Here are some recent 2023 examples of clients that used the Kennedy network for cross border recruiting:

Netherlands - United States

A stock-exchange listed Dutch multinational in specialty chemicals, whom was a client of the Dutch Kennedy partner based in Amsterdam, had a need for a VP Regulatory Affairs for the American division. The role was to be based on the US West Coast. After an introduction by the Dutch partner, the Denver based US Kennedy partner took responsibility to fill this crucial role that enabled the client to have market access. The local HR department in the US had worked with other US based Executive Search firms, but without a successful result. The US Kennedy partner, produced qualified candidates within twenty days, thus proving the agility and added value of the Kennedy network.

Germany - Ireland

A US medical devices company had recruited in a number of European countries using the German Kennedy partner. They had a new requirement for a senior Business Development Manager in Ireland. The Irish Kennedy partner met with the client, toured their manufacturing facility and got a very good understanding of the client’s culture and the type of candidates they would like to meet. The assignment was completed on time and within budget. The US client felt that the whole exercise from the briefing, commercial terms, commencement to placement and billing was a seamless process. A great example of the often used phrase, Local Knowledge, Global Approach.

Denmark - Austria

A major Danish food company needed a Financial Director for their subsidiary in the DACH-region. The Danish Kennedy partner reached out to the Austrian based Kennedy partner who is renowned for being well-connected in the financial space and asked him to link up with the local hiring manager. The Austrian partner met with the local client, presented his approach for solving the assignment which was well in line with the methodologies the parent company have used in Denmark. He took the brief, conducted a thorough search process, and presented a panel of skilled and relevant candidates ending up with a signed contract. The process was stringent and held momentum and was fully in sync with expectations of the parent company and the hiring manager.

Spain - France

Recently the Spanish Kennedy partner reached out to the French Kennedy partner regards a CFO position, based in Paris, for a leading manufacturing company. Both the Spanish and the French Kennedy partners met with the client, and got a very good understanding of the client’s culture and the type of candidates they would like to meet for this critical role, which was part of the executive committee. The collaboration throughout the process was excellent and the assignment was completed on time. The client felt that the whole exercise from the briefing, commercial terms, and market mapping to placement went like clockwork.

The cornerstone of business is trust and when one of the Kennedy partners refers a client to another partner, they go beyond the call of duty to deliver an excellent service both for the client and their partner colleague. The Kennedy Executive Search network has the advantage of being owner managed and in all cases the Managing Partner will personally oversee the recruitment assignment in the other country.

So pick up the phone, it will be the best business decision you will made today!