A global trade body operating in the sustainability sector appointed Hanson Search, to build out a newly formed communications team with three appointments across the UK and mainland Europe. Each role carried a distinct remit, spanning media relations, digital content, member engagement and events, and together they underpinned the organisation’s strategy for growing its global voice. The brief called for three different skill sets rather than three versions of the same hire.
The challenge: multi-market communications hires with language requirements
Two constraints shaped the search from the outset. One role required fluency in French, another required fluency in English, which narrowed each pool considerably once communications experience at the right level was factored in. The organisation also operated on a fully remote basis, so candidates needed a track record of working effectively in a distributed team rather than an intention to try it. Recruiting across Europe for a sector as specialised as sustainability and ESG meant the client needed a partner able to run region-specific outreach while holding a consistent standard across all three appointments.
Our approach to retained communications recruitment across three markets
We ran the assignment on a retained basis, with our dedicated research team mapping each market separately to build a diverse pool for every role rather than a single shared longlist. First-round interviews assessed both functional capability and cultural alignment, and we then worked with the hiring managers to refine the pool against a detailed matrix covering experience, specialist expertise and contribution to the organisation’s objectives. Because each of the three roles had different priorities, we agreed those weightings with the client in advance rather than applying one standard across the team. Remote working experience was assessed as a requirement in its own right, alongside the wider communications recruitment criteria for each brief.
The outcome: three communications appointments across the UK and Europe
All three roles were filled, with each appointee bringing the mix of regional knowledge, functional expertise and strategic thinking the brief required, including the French and English language fluency the client needed. The appointments gave the trade body a functioning communications team where previously there had been none, strengthening its media relations, improving engagement with its membership and supporting its wider goals across the trade, industry and sustainability sectors. The new team settled quickly into the remote structure and provided the client with a base for further growth.
Hanson Search Group is a global talent consultancy providing executive search, recruitment and leadership advisory services. Built on more than twenty years of trusted relationships, we operate as a connected global platform of specialist practices with expert consultants embedded in key markets.
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