Chief Transformation Officer – Aerospace and Defense sector

ITP recently conducted a retained executive search on behalf of a leading global metal manufacturer with approximately $5 billion in revenue and a significant presence within the aerospace and defense sector.

The business was seeking to appoint a Chief Transformation Officer to work directly with the CEO, with a clear mandate to streamline operations, improve organisational efficiency and deliver against ambitious EBITDA targets. The appointment was also required to succeed a long-standing executive who was retiring from the business, making the identification of an individual with the right combination of transformation expertise, operational leadership and sector experience particularly important.

Following a comprehensive market assessment, ITP identified and engaged with a highly targeted pool of executives with proven experience delivering operational transformation and measurable financial improvement within complex manufacturing environments. Five highly relevant and motivated candidates were subsequently shortlisted against the client’s criteria.

The strength and breadth of the shortlist had a significant impact on the client’s thinking. Following the initial candidate assessments, the business recognised the opportunity to leverage the calibre of talent identified and took the decision to restructure the mandate, ultimately appointing two executives to lead separate areas of the organisation.

Both candidates brought directly relevant experience of leading complex transformation programmes, improving operational performance and delivering results against demanding financial objectives. Their appointments provided the business with additional leadership capability while creating greater accountability across the organisation’s operations.

The client conducted a rigorous internal interview and assessment process, moving with pace while maintaining a high level of diligence throughout. Both appointments were successfully completed within five weeks of the initial briefing, demonstrating the effectiveness of the market mapping, candidate engagement and search process.

For the client, the outcome went beyond the original brief. Rather than appointing a single successor, the business secured two highly experienced transformation leaders with proven track records of delivering the operational and financial improvements required, while simultaneously strengthening its organisational structure to support its wider performance objectives.