Leveraging Deep Relationships: How We Accelerate Team Builds
By Matt Sommi
The team build — quickly recruiting multiple executives who are aligned on vision and strategy — can be a game-changer for any company.
In an earlier blog posting entitled “Building the Right Team, Fast: The Power of Executive Search Team Builds”,we highlighted the importance of speed and strategic alignment in assembling a cohesive leadership team.
What distinguishes a top-tier search partner is the strength of its relationships and industry knowledge.
These factors enhance both the search process and placement accuracy.
Bespoke Partners has executed more than 16 team builds involving five or more executives within one partner company, across a diverse range of functions, industries, and company scales.
Additionally, we have delivered more than 30 team builds, each with three or more executives, further showcasing the strength of our relationships. These connections not only expedite the search process, but also enhance the quality and synergy of the leadership teams we build.
Cybersecurity Growth Story
Bespoke’s recruitment of three executives spurred significant growth in an identity security firm, leading to a major acquisition to optimize workflows, being named to CRN’s top 100 list and accelerating recurring revenue to over 80% total with 40% YoY subscription growth.
Lucrative Retail POS Growth
Bespoke appointed executive team at Retail POS software firm achieves 200% 2 yr growth, raised a seed round of funding for their retail partners and successfully completed a lucrative acquisition.
Growth on All Fronts
Bespoke placed multiple executives for a cloud-based manufacturing workforce solutions client which resulted in enhancing their product suite, successful acquisitions and an impressive acceleration of booking growth to 47%.
Perfect Pairings: Complementing the First Executive
The first placement in a team build often reveals the interpersonal dynamics of the executive leadership team and guides how we build upon these dynamics.
Instead of simply filling expertise gaps, our approach focuses on creating pairings that enhance the strengths of the first executive while promoting a collaborative and innovative environment.
Subsequent placements are designed to solidify this dynamic, ensuring a cohesive and effective leadership team.
Our approach goes beyond just addressing skill gaps by focusing on how different working styles and personalities will interact.
For instance, if the first executive placed thrives in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment, we might bring in a leader known for their thoughtful yet decisive approach to decision making. The pairing of different but complementary working styles creates a balanced approach, ensuring a synergistic approach to the decision-making process that won’t slow the team’s momentum.
Our firm’s dedicated executive search professionals bring decades of experience to the table when it comes to assessing candidates’ personalities, capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses.
This experience enables us to bring together teams that function cohesively, reducing the chances of misalignment or miscommunication.
The search process is not just about finding the right skills; it’s about building a team where each member’s strengths are amplified by those of their colleagues, culminating in a leadership team that is greater than the sum of its parts.
Not Wasting the Candidate’s Time
Another key differentiator of a successful search partner is the ability to effectively represent your company and clearly explain the opportunity to top-tier candidates.
That starts with access to candidates who are willing to even take a call with your recruiting partner.
Our strong relationships with executives mean that we’ve already developed a keen understanding of what resonates with them—from compensation structures to the company’s investment thesis.
They know we will not waste their time – when Bespoke calls, the best candidates answer. That’s why our candidate conversion rate is 82%.
Additionally, our knowledge of the company’s value proposition and the dynamics of the market prepare us to present an opportunity that stands out.
We’re not just selling a job; we’re presenting an opportunity that is aligned with the candidate’s aspirations and the company’s strategic objectives. This alignment is key to making placements that lead to long-term success.
Knowing the Preferences of the Hiring Committee
Each hiring committee has unique preferences and nuances, from scheduling needs to the ideal cultural fit. Our familiarity with these preferences from previous searches within the team build accelerates the search process.
By understanding what the committee values most, we can streamline decision-making and reduce the friction that often slows down the hiring process.
For example, if we know that the hiring committee prioritizes candidates who have a strong track record in driving growth, we can tailor our search to focus on executives with a proven history in growing revenue through sales. Similarly, understanding the committee’s scheduling preferences allows us to coordinate interviews more efficiently, ensuring that the process moves forward without unnecessary delays.
Our thorough knowledge eliminates guesswork and allows us to present candidates who not only meet the job requirements, but also align with the hiring committee’s expectations. The result is a smoother, faster search process that leads to successful placements.
Partnering with a search firm that leverages its deep relationships is crucial for any organization looking to build a world-class leadership team. Our proven track record in executing team builds across industries and functions speaks to our ability to deliver results that matter.
Looking to ensure your leadership team is set for success from day one?
Contact us today to discover how our strategic insight can make it happen.
Bespoke Partners Named in Top 10 of the “Top 49 Retained Executive Search” 2-Years Running by C-Suite CV Secure.
Author:
Matt Sommi
Senior Vice President
Based in Philadelphia, Matt helps lead Bespoke’s client engagement efforts across the firm’s suite of services.
Prior to joining Bespoke, Matt spent 8 years in research and business development at GLG, supporting private equity due diligence efforts and building relationships with GLG’s middle market private equity firms.