The standout IT leader a months-long search had missed

The Challenge

Our client, a multinational manufacturing and supply chain business operating across the Pacific region, needed to fill a senior, highly visible IT role in PNG, specifically to be held by a PNG National — a position requiring a rare combination of strategic program management experience, strong stakeholder influence, and the ability to operate effectively within a complex matrix organisation spanning multiple countries and reporting lines.

The search had been running for several months before we were engaged. The client’s internal teams and an offshore recruitment partner had already exhausted their usual networks, including direct LinkedIn outreach, and several shortlisted candidates had been rejected at various stages for not meeting the leadership and cultural fit required. By the time we were brought in, there was understandable scepticism about whether the role could be filled at all.

What We Did

Recognising that a conventional, contingency-style search had already been tried without success, we took a different approach, leaning on our local market knowledge and existing network in PNG to headhunt candidates directly, rather than relying on advertising or broad sourcing. We worked closely with the client to align on the specific leadership traits, technical balance, and stakeholder-management capability the role demanded, having learned from the profiles that had previously fallen short.

The Result

We presented three candidates to the client, all sourced through direct headhunting via our network — including one standout candidate who was very strongly received by the client’s leadership team.

Client Feedback

We presented three candidates to the client, all sourced through direct headhunting via our network — including one standout candidate who was very strongly received by the client’s leadership team.

She was a great find. We all really liked her.