The Snapshot
Facing rapid expansion, our client, a dominant force in Nigeria’s wellness sector, needed pivotal leadership to manage growth and strengthen internal controls. We successfully placed a Chief Human Resources Officer and a Head of Internal Control, providing the strategic oversight essential for their continued success and stability.
The Client and Their Vision
Our client is a leading health and wellness company with a growing footprint across Nigeria. With over 20 fitness centres nationwide and a team of more than 250 professionally certified personal trainers, they’re committed to delivering a holistic and rewarding fitness experience. Their services include access to multiple locations and a diverse range of fitness programmes tailored to support the health goals of a wide and varied membership base. Their vision for continued growth meant they needed to reinforce their leadership team with strategic hires.
The Business Challenge
Rapid growth brought new complexities for our client. They urgently needed a Chief Human Resources Officer to take full ownership of their people function. Without this key hire, they faced challenges in building a unified work environment, ensuring fair HR policies across all locations, and guiding the recruitment and development of their expanding workforce. The right CHRO was crucial for shaping a culture that supports staff, encourages accountability, and improves overall performance.
At the same time, there was a growing demand to strengthen internal structures and reduce financial and operational risks. They needed a Head of Internal Control who could review existing processes, identify potential weaknesses, and implement robust checks. This role was vital for ensuring accurate records, timely reporting, and strict adherence to internal policies and regulations.
Both roles were essential for seamless day-to-day operations, informed decision-making, and preparing the business for sustained long-term success. The absence of these strategic leaders posed a significant hurdle to their ambitious growth plans.
Our Strategic Approach
Getting the right fit for any critical leadership role depends on deeply understanding the client’s unique requirements and responding effectively. To achieve this, we deployed our proven 5-D methodology.
Our process began with the Diagnose Stage, where we met with the client to clearly understand the roles and their expectations. It was obvious they needed capable and experienced leaders. For the CHRO, they sought someone who could lead the entire people function: setting strategic direction, managing performance, and building robust HR systems aligned with the organisation’s goals. For the Head of Internal Control, they required an individual capable of establishing and managing comprehensive internal control systems, ensuring risks were properly handled, and providing the business with practical, timely reporting. We asked precise questions to define what success would look like for each role, understood past challenges, and identified the ideal cultural fit.
We then moved into the Design Stage, outlining the project’s scope and assembling a dedicated recruitment team. We collaborated closely with the client to agree on timelines, reporting structures, and the specific support they needed from us throughout the process.
In the Develop Stage, we crafted highly specific success profiles for both roles. For the CHRO, this included a proven track record in strategic HR leadership, change management, performance improvement, and compliance. We also focused on their ability to expertly handle people-related challenges like staff development, retention, and engagement. For the Head of Internal Control, we sought strong auditing and risk management experience, a practical understanding of internal control systems, and the ability to partner with leadership teams to enhance processes. Key behavioural traits, such as meticulous attention to detail, unwavering reliability, and strong problem-solving skills, were also vital components of our profile.
Finally, at the Deliver Stage, we began sourcing candidates through our extensive database, trusted professional networks, and referrals. We rigorously shortlisted only those who met both the technical and behavioural requirements. Our team conducted in-depth interviews and internal assessments to verify key capabilities and past achievements. Only candidates with a proven track record of similar work and the ability to drive immediate impact were considered for the client’s shortlist. We then presented a carefully curated list of suitable candidates for each role, along with our detailed reports and recommendations to support the client’s final decision.
The Transformative Outcome
Following our rigorous screening and interviews, we presented our client with a shortlist of three exceptional candidates for each role. Each individual brought a unique blend of relevant experience, proven capabilities, and the essential behavioural qualities needed to thrive within the organisation.
Rather than overwhelming the client with numerous options, we prioritised quality, ensuring every candidate on the shortlist met the specific brief and was poised to add significant value from day one. This gave the client a confident starting point for their final selection, secure in the knowledge that every recommended profile had been thoroughly vetted and perfectly aligned with their strategic needs.
Ultimately, our client successfully appointed a new Chief Human Resources Officer and a Head, Internal Control. These pivotal placements immediately strengthened their leadership team, providing the strategic oversight for human capital and financial integrity crucial for their continued growth and market dominance.
The Client’s Words
“We are satisfied with the process. We especially liked the quality of profiles shared and timeliness of the project delivery.”
What’s Next?
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📞 Call us: +234 90 3194 6744
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