Agility in action: Delivering a high-value CFO in record time

The assignment: How the project began

The assignment originated in Denmark as a cross-border executive search for Badelement, which urgently required a new CFO for its Polish branch following the departure of the former CFO. Anders Jorgensen, Managing Partner at Kestria Denmark: People Executive, had established relationships with both the current group CEO and the former group CFO. He had first met the former group CFO as a candidate for another role prior to his appointment at Badelement, who was then impressed by the excellent candidate experience. Subsequently, the CFO approached Anders for assistance in recruiting a new CFO in Poland. Anders promptly connected the client with Piotr Mazurkiewicz, Managing Partner at Kestria Poland: HRK, after which the Polish team took over and successfully led the search process.

The challenge

1

The current CFO of Badelement's Polish branch decided to leave the company due to logistical challenges, as the role required traveling approximately 100 kilometers one way several times a week. The company’s size, production profile and location made the search particularly challenging. The scope of the search had to be geographically limited to avoid the risk of hiring another candidate who might face similar commuting difficulties.

2

The client required a new CFO within a short timeframe, ideally within three months. The position called for an individual who not only understands the local Polish business environment but is also capable of fostering international cooperation, particularly with venture capital and investment firms. The ideal candidate would be someone able to contribute to building the company’s long-term value.

Search assignment and cross-border cooperation

An extensive search was conducted across the region to develop a comprehensive long list of potential candidates, including both individuals ready to assume the CFO role immediately and those aspiring to reach this level. As the assignment was confidential, headhunting and direct search methodologies were applied, leveraging HRK’s (Kestria Poland) professional network. The team’s focus was on the south-western part of Poland, a region that posed challenges due to its competitiveness, as many professionals there are employed by German companies. Specialising exclusively in the financial sector, the team concentrated on roles such as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accountant, Controller and other key finance-related positions, maintaining a strong emphasis on senior financial expertise.

The position was successfully filled within approximately seven weeks. A shortlist of five strong candidates was presented, and about two weeks later, the client decided to close the project, expressing great satisfaction with the outcome.

With Anders’ continuous support throughout the project, structured communication was maintained to ensure transparency and progress. Updates were provided to him regularly, while he liaised directly with the client to monitor the search process and identify any additional requirements from Piotr and his team.

Key success factor 

The key success factor in this assignment was the team’s ability to act swiftly and prioritise the search from the very beginning. Once the project commenced, it was treated as a top priority, which enabled the consultants to identify and engage high-quality candidates within a short timeframe. This focus and pace led to the successful placement of an experienced CFO with both local Polish market knowledge and international experience - exactly the combination the client was seeking.

Conclusion

The project stands as a testament to how mutual trust and seamless cooperation across borders strengthen both expertise and partnership within Kestria. It proved that when members combine their local insight with shared global standards, even the most time-critical challenges can be turned into success. The outcome not only met the client’s immediate need for a highly qualified CFO but also reaffirmed Kestria’s agility, precision and unified approach to delivering excellence across markets.