for Client Confidential
Appointing a Managing Director to lead the next chapter at a Bath-based property services business
For many successful founders, building their business is only part of the journey. There often comes a time when they wish to bring in an MD to run the business to enable further growth.
That was the position facing the Founder of a highly respected independent property services business based in Bath.
Having successfully grown the business, the Founder wanted to create greater capacity to focus on strategic priorities so made the decision to appoint its first-ever Managing Director, a pivotal hire that would help shape the future of the business.
The challenge
This was not a straightforward hire, and the wrong appointment for such a pivotal role could be catastrophic. The successful candidate would need to become the operational leader of the business whilst respecting the values, relationships, and reputation that had been carefully built over many years.
Bath has a competitive and sophisticated property sector. National names compete alongside strong regional operators and respected independents. Knowledge of this market was a pre-requisite for this role, narrowing the pool of potential candidates.
Why Moon?
Attracting and assessing senior leadership talent requires different networks and methodologies to those typically employed by SMEs. Moon worked closely with the Founder to define the role and articulate the opportunity in a way that would attract high-calibre candidates who might not be actively engaged in a job search.
Unlike recruiting a lettings negotiator, sales negotiator or branch manager, this appointment demanded the assessment of leadership capability, commercial acumen, cultural fit and long-term succession potential. Moon was able to assist in screening these skills as experienced c-suite and board level recruiters, reaching candidates who it would have been difficult to reach via conventional recruitment channels.
For founder-led businesses, the value of executive search extends beyond candidate attraction. It provides access to broader talent pools, an objective assessment framework, and the reassurance that one of the most important appointments in the company's history is being approached with the right level of rigour and expertise.
The outcome
The campaign generated a strong response from the market. Moon undertook comprehensive screening before presenting a shortlist of seven candidates for interview. Following a rigorous process, a new Managing Director was appointed.
The successful candidate brought valuable local property market credibility alongside previous leadership experience, combining deep sector knowledge with proven commercial and operational expertise.
“Many owner-managed businesses reach a stage where growth becomes dependent on strengthening the leadership team. Yet recruiting at board level is very different to hiring operational roles. Our role is to help founders make these critical appointments with confidence.”
Moon Executive Search provide bespoke solutions for clients, using our extensive expertise and knowledge to find your perfect candidate. Call us on 01275 371200 or email us to find out more.