Client Overview
Our client is a leading UK marketing and communications network, with operations spanning media, creative, influence, technology and data. They partnered with Talentedge to recruit a UK CFO capable of steering complex, multi-entity financial operations and supporting ambitious growth plans.
The Challenge
The CFO role required a leader who could:
- Direct finance across diverse and fast-moving disciplines
- Drive growth through acquisitions and commercial partnerships
- Build a high-performance finance team aligned to business goals
- Partner closely with the CEO and executive stakeholders in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment
Our Approach
Partnership with the CEO
The search was guided directly by the CEO’s strategic priorities for the business. We worked closely to:
- Fully understand the company’s short- and long-term growth ambitions
- Define the leadership style and interpersonal qualities that would complement the existing executive team
- Ensure candidates were assessed not just on technical capability, but also on their ability to partner with the CEO on strategic initiatives and organisational change
By keeping the CEO closely involved at each stage, we ensured buy-in, alignment, and confidence in the final hire.
Collaboration with the TA Team:
From day one, we worked in close partnership with the Chief Talent Officer and her team to ensure full alignment on:
- The brief and ideal candidate profile
- Messaging to market that reflected the group’s employer brand
- Interview structure, assessment process, and feedback turnaround times
- Managing a tight recruitment timeline without disrupting other business-critical hires
By acting as an extension of their TA function, we were able to:
- Increase search bandwidth during a peak hiring period
- Maintain a consistent candidate experience
- Allow the internal team to focus on wider organisational priorities while we targeted this niche, senior-level hire
Targeted Search & Candidate Engagement
Leveraging over 15 years’ experience recruiting senior finance leaders in the marcomms sector, Talentedge finance recruitment consultants built a longlist in two weeks, combining:
- Our existing network of C-suite finance talent
- Targeted headhunting in competitor and adjacent industries
- Confidential outreach to passive candidates, with NDAs in place to protect sensitive business information
Shortlisting & Selection
Within three weeks, we presented seven qualified candidates, including one “wild card” profile from an adjacent sector who offered fresh perspectives while meeting all technical requirements.
Following a multi-stage interview process involving the CEO, Chief Talent Officer, and other senior stakeholders, the “wild card” candidate was unanimously selected for their strategic alignment, leadership skills and cultural fit.
Outcome
From brief to accepted offer in seven weeks, we delivered:
- A CFO with deep strategic finance expertise and experience in acquisitions
- Proven leadership across diverse, high-growth environments
- Immediate rapport with the CEO, Chief Talent Officer and senior leadership team
Impact & Key Success Drivers
- Speed & precision: 7-week turnaround on a critical C-suite hire
- Sector expertise: Extensive knowledge of marcomms and media landscapes
- Collaborative process: Seamless partnership with the Chief Talent Officer and TA team
- Strategic fit: Appointment of a CFO aligned with both commercial objectives and company culture
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