Experiences | Industrial - Distribution

A worldwide leader in industrial and commercial supplies was facing the daunting task of implementing a company-wide overhaul of its approach to Human Resources.

Previously, the client’s approach to HR had been highly administrative and transactional. The client made the decision to centralize its administrative HR processes into a shared services environment while transforming the rest of its HR approach from a focus on organizational development and talent management.

The starting point for the transformation was placing a new Head of HR in each of three different divisions, including the largest branch where the company headquarters are co-located. Lantern Partners was selected for the search based on its demonstrated expertise in recruiting top-level strategic and tactical HR talent.

As a new client, our approach was to spend a significant amount of time with senior management, clarifying desired skills, leadership styles and our impressions of their culture.

Based on client feedback, we determined that a candidate with a non-traditional HR background best fit their needs, leading us to focus the search on candidates who possessed a more eclectic business and HR consulting experiences, at a senior level.

For their largest branch, our broad network of contacts inside and outside the industry allowed us to quickly identify a list of qualified candidates. Within six weeks, the client was presented with four choices, one of whom shortly received and accepted an offer.

Lantern Partners enjoys a continuing relationship with this client, having helped them build their new approach to strategic HR in each of their locations nationally. We share a common set of values, commitment to deliver, and sense of urgency which fosters our healthy partnership.