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INDUSTRY REPORTS
CASE STUDIES
- Case Study – Why Hiring for Potential, Not Just the Job Description, Paid Off
Case Study The Situation When a private equity firm acquired a rapidly scaling engineering services company, they knew professionalizing talent acquisition would be one of the keys to success. Our client engaged Acumen, an award-winning executive search firm consistently recognized among the Pacific Northwest’s most admired companies. Their highest needs were to professionalize HR and… Read more: Case Study – Why Hiring for Potential, Not Just the Job Description, Paid Off - Case Study – From Turnover to Transformation: The Impact of a High-Performing VP of HR
The Challenge A global high-tech manufacturing company with decades of history was facing severe turnover across all levels of the organization, especially within the human resources function. This instability threatened performance, culture, and alignment across multiple plants. The company engaged Acumen Executive Search not only to identify its next Vice President of HR, but also… Read more: Case Study – From Turnover to Transformation: The Impact of a High-Performing VP of HR - Case Study – A Rapid Rise at a Global Tea Manufacturer
From Junior Manager to Global Director The Situation A global tea manufacturer was searching for a highly capable Director-level Project Manager with experience in natural and international consumer packaged goods (CPG). This search posed unique challenges because the company was located in a region with limited international CPG manufacturers specializing in natural products. Acumen leveraged… Read more: Case Study – A Rapid Rise at a Global Tea Manufacturer - When Is Too Much Business a Bad Thing?
How Small Businesses Can Manage Rapid Growth Without Breaking Sometimes the biggest threat to a small business isn’t failure—it’s sudden, overwhelming success. In 2020, right after the COVID shutdown, a small biotech manufacturer contacted Acumen Executive Search for help. Before the pandemic, they produced about 500 diagnostic testing kits per week. Then one phone call… Read more: When Is Too Much Business a Bad Thing? - Case Study – When a National FI Organization Wanted a CIO, Acumen Delivered More
The Situation An Award-Winning National Mortgage Company was in need of a CIO with solid leadership skills: able to manage, develop, and grow a talented team; have hard conversations when necessary; and able to streamline processes to allow the team to perform more efficiently. In addition to being a strong leader, the organization required the… Read more: Case Study – When a National FI Organization Wanted a CIO, Acumen Delivered More - Case Study: CEO Leadership in Advancing Access in Affordable and Permanent Supportive Housing
The Challenge A highly regarded, established, and essential non-profit and quasi-government housing organization in Central Oregon was seeking their next CEO due to a retirement. The search presented challenges as there were few candidates locally with the necessary expertise and candidates from outside the area would need to relocate to an area with minimal affordable… Read more: Case Study: CEO Leadership in Advancing Access in Affordable and Permanent Supportive Housing - Case Study – Finance Leader’s Rapid Impact at a Global Beverage Manufacturer
The Situation A high-growth global beverage manufacturing client presented a critical need to hire a talented financial planning and analytics (FP&A) leader at a pivotal moment: there was no structured finance team, and critical FP&A functions needed immediate leadership. The manufacturer boasts a unique culture—rooted in health, wellness, calm, and embracing “Oregonian values” of organic… Read more: Case Study – Finance Leader’s Rapid Impact at a Global Beverage Manufacturer - Redefining Executive Search: A Case Study in Leadership, Consensus, and Transformation
“Acumen Executive Search, led by Suzanne and her team, brought confidence, expertise, and deep nonprofit knowledge to our Executive Search. Michelle presented a strong pool of qualified candidates, and the team engaged effectively with our Board of Directors, providing clear communication, responsiveness, and reassurance throughout the process. Their commitment to exceeding expectations and following through… Read more: Redefining Executive Search: A Case Study in Leadership, Consensus, and Transformation - Filling a Unique and Nuanced Leadership Role – Case Study
The Situation: A second-generation transportation consulting firm was experiencing rapid growth. The President retained Acumen to find a Vice President who could take on critical responsibilities, including sales, customer management, finance and data analytics, and leadership, to help scale the organization. The Process: Acumen began by interviewing the President and key staff members to fully… Read more: Filling a Unique and Nuanced Leadership Role – Case Study - What a Human Resources Partner Can Do for a Company
Situation When a long-time manufacturing client sought Acumen’s expertise to hire a Human Resource leader, little did they know that their needs were far greater. The company had been experiencing rapid growth and was struggling with filling positions, high rates of tardiness and absenteeism, bad hires, and supervisors who needed development. They had few formal… Read more: What a Human Resources Partner Can Do for a Company
Read Our Recent Blog Posts
- The Cost of Unfilled Leadership Roles: When Internal Recruiters Struggle to Find Executives
When a key leadership role sits vacant, not only is it an empty chair, but it is also a costly pause in your organization’s momentum. The cost of unfilled leadership roles extends beyond salary savings. It touches every aspect of the business: strategy, culture, morale, and financial performance. Many companies rely on their internal recruiters… Read more: The Cost of Unfilled Leadership Roles: When Internal Recruiters Struggle to Find Executives - Profiles in Leadership Sits Down with Karen Anderson
The Profiles in Leadership series features conversations with organizational leadership experts to discuss important lessons they have learned and what “Hiring for Good” means to them. This series helps us better understand how leadership drives positive transformations and growth for people, organizations, and the world. This episode features a conversation with Karen Anderson. Karen is… Read more: Profiles in Leadership Sits Down with Karen Anderson - Hiring for Good Ep. 45 – Shannon Berg: Leading Through Crisis
Hiring for Good is a podcast exploring the transformative power of leadership and what happens when the right person takes the job. Thank you for tuning in to this episode with our guest, Shannon Berg, APR, the Founder & CEO of Berg & Associates. Shannon Berg, APR LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-berg-apr/ Berg & Associates: https://bergassociatesnw.com/ Hiring For… Read more: Hiring for Good Ep. 45 – Shannon Berg: Leading Through Crisis - Hiring for Good Ep. 44 – Tanya L. Stewart, MD, MBA
Hiring for Good is a podcast presented by Acumen Executive Search exploring the transformative power of leadership and what happens when the right person takes the job. Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Hiring For Good Ep 44 with Dr. Tanya L. Stewart – Regional Medical Director at Aledade Inc. Topics Discussed:… Read more: Hiring for Good Ep. 44 – Tanya L. Stewart, MD, MBA - Hiring for Good Ep. 43 – Paul Del Vecchio: Aligning Talent with Mission
Hiring for Good is a podcast exploring the transformative power of leadership and what happens when the right person takes the job. Thank you for tuning in to this episode with our guest Paul Delvecchio, CEO and co-founder of Ethos Companies. Topics Discussed: -From Engineering to Entrepreneurship – Paul shares his path from construction and… Read more: Hiring for Good Ep. 43 – Paul Del Vecchio: Aligning Talent with Mission - Hiring for Good Ep. 42 – Eve Gray: Building Teams and Communities Through Trust
Hiring for Good is a podcast presented by Acumen Executive Search exploring the transformative power of leadership and what happens when the right person takes the job. Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Hiring For Good Ep 42 with Eve Gray, Director of Health and Human Services at Lane County. Topics Discussed:… Read more: Hiring for Good Ep. 42 – Eve Gray: Building Teams and Communities Through Trust - The 5 Things Executives Look for in Recruiters (That Most Firms Miss)
The stakes are high when hiring at the executive level. The right leader can transform an organization, drive growth, and strengthen culture. The wrong leader can transform an organization, but not for the better. They can stall momentum, hurt morale, and cost both time and money. That is why executives need to be careful about… Read more: The 5 Things Executives Look for in Recruiters (That Most Firms Miss) - Case Study – Why Hiring for Potential, Not Just the Job Description, Paid OffCase Study The Situation When a private equity firm acquired a rapidly scaling engineering services company, they knew professionalizing talent acquisition would be one of the keys to success. Our client engaged Acumen, an award-winning executive search firm consistently recognized among the Pacific Northwest’s most admired companies. Their highest needs were to professionalize HR and… Read more: Case Study – Why Hiring for Potential, Not Just the Job Description, Paid Off
- When Is It Time to Replace Someone on Your Leadership Team?
Replacing a member of your leadership team is one of the most difficult decisions an organization can make. A strong leader drives strategy, culture, and performance, while an ineffective leader can stall growth, erode morale, and cost far more than their salary. Because leadership changes can be risky and disruptive, companies often wait too long… Read more: When Is It Time to Replace Someone on Your Leadership Team? - Case Study – From Turnover to Transformation: The Impact of a High-Performing VP of HRThe Challenge A global high-tech manufacturing company with decades of history was facing severe turnover across all levels of the organization, especially within the human resources function. This instability threatened performance, culture, and alignment across multiple plants. The company engaged Acumen Executive Search not only to identify its next Vice President of HR, but also… Read more: Case Study – From Turnover to Transformation: The Impact of a High-Performing VP of HR