PE Backed SME | Greater Manchester
The Brief
The CFO was looking to strengthen their senior team to support the next phase of growth. With private equity backing in place and a clear future exit strategy, the business recognised the need to make far better use of the vast amounts of data already available across the organisation. While data existed in abundance, it was not being effectively identified, modelled, or utilised to support strategic decision-making, visibility, or long-term value creation. The brief required someone who could bridge finance, data, and commercial insight, translating raw information into meaningful outputs that could influence decisions at board level.
The leadership team were understandably concerned that they were asking for a “unicorn”: a candidate with a very specific skillset, strong commercial capability, and the right mindset, all within a defined budget.
The Approach
The process began with a detailed consultation to fully understand what the business actually needed this individual to deliver, rather than simply focusing on job titles or background. Time was spent clarifying priorities, outcomes, and where this role would add the most value across the organisation.
From this, a clear and realistic job specification was created, aligned to both the strategic objectives of the business and the realities of the market.
A targeted search was then conducted, resulting in a shortlist that deliberately represented a range of experience levels and salary expectations. This gave the leadership team a clear view of what was achievable at different points in the market, allowing informed decision-making and alignment on the right level for the role.
The Result
Following interviews, the client felt that the brief had been fully understood and that the shortlist accurately reflected both the technical and cultural requirements of the role. A candidate was appointed who aligned strongly with the values of the business and the outcomes required. From the outset, the successful candidate began making an immediate impact – identifying, structuring, and developing data to improve visibility, insight, and decision-making across the organisation. The role has since added exceptional value, supporting growth objectives and strengthening the business’s position for future strategic activity.
Summary
This assignment highlights the importance of careful role definition and honest market consultation when recruiting into newly created, high-impact positions. By focusing on outcomes rather than assumptions, Hawthorn One helped the business turn a perceived “unicorn” requirement into a successful, value-adding appointment – delivered with clarity, confidence, and long-term impact.