Context: A leading enterprise software multinational sought to appoint a new Managing Director to lead its operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. In line with the evolving local leadership landscape, the client was strongly committed to appointing a Saudi national to this critical post, one who could combine international experience with cultural fluency and deep sector expertise.
Challenge: The profile required was highly specific: a senior executive with international experience, sector expertise, and strong alignment with local market expectations. In line with national workforce strategies aimed at increasing Saudi representation in executive roles, the client sought to appoint a Saudi national. Given the specificity of the brief and the scarcity of such profiles locally, a broader global search was essential.
Approach: We conducted a multi-market executive search spanning the GCC, Europe, and North America, with a focus on identifying high-potential Saudi nationals currently working abroad. By targeting leadership talent within global consultancies and multinational firms, we were able to identify rare profiles combining technical acumen with international leadership exposure.
Result: We successfully secured the appointment of a Saudi national with a strong consulting background, based in the United Kingdom at the time of engagement. The executive returned to Saudi Arabia to assume the Managing Director role, bringing with him a blend of strategic capability, international best practices, and local insight.
Impact: The placement reinforced the client’s leadership alignment with regional priorities, while ensuring continuity in the execution of global standards and strategy. It also demonstrated the value of an integrated search approach, capable of identifying exceptional candidates across borders—then translating opportunity into action.