Venari Partners’ Hospitality team were asked by a world-renowned hotel group to search for a VP of Sales and Marketing for both Europe and the US. This is a high-profile position within the business reporting into the Chief Commercial Officer, and with key accountability for the group.
The team were instructed to seek candidates that had luxury-specific, hospitality experience and who had built up an extensive network within the US market. Due to the status of the position, the search and interview process were vigorous and high expectations were set for candidates going forward to interview.
The team took multiple approaches to ensure no stone was left unturned in locating the right candidates. A breakthrough came with the introduction of a candidate through a good mutual contact of Venari Partners. This successful candidate was a high achiever within a competitor firm and had established himself as one of the most promising talents within the luxury hospitality space.
The main challenges throughout the process were logistical; the candidate was based in Italy, the role in London and the key business stakeholders in the Middle East. Coupled with busy schedules (sales leaders tend to travel often), aligning diaries for interviews proved challenging, with some interview stages up to a month apart. Venari Partners acted as the mediator throughout, helping to carve out time for interviews as well as making sure motivation and enthusiasm was present on both sides throughout the lengthy process.
The result? A successful placement, a great addition to the client’s team and a fantastic next step for the candidate.