Appointing a Turnaround CEO for a $500M Industrial Conglomerate
How Zenith HR executed a confidential cross-border search to identify and place a transformative CEO within 45 days during a major restructuring.
R. Nagarajan
Managing Partner
A premier private equity fund completed a majority acquisition of a $500M legacy industrial manufacturing enterprise facing margin compression and succession gridlock. The fund required an immediate, high-impact CEO to lead digital modernization and operational turnaround.
Zenith HR was appointed on an exclusive, confidential mandate to map target executives across India, Germany, and the United States.
The Search & Selection Process
Within 28 days, Zenith HR presented a shortlisted panel of 4 proven turnaround leaders. The appointed CEO successfully assumed leadership on Day 45, initiating an operational overhaul that improved EBITDA margins by 340 bps in the first year.
Executing a high-stakes CEO search in turnaround conditions requires absolute confidentiality, speed, and rigorous leadership capability assessment.
R. Nagarajan
AUTHORManaging Partner
Over two decades of experience in executive leadership search, PE portfolio hiring, and board advisory across India & international markets.
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