Situation
FH ORTHO was a French company specializing in orthopedic products for extremities, sports and trauma. The company was owned by LBO France, one of the country’s leading private equity firms. At the time of the search, most of the company’s revenue came from Europe and increasing its US presence was a major strategic goal. FH ORTHO engaged us to find a new General Manager to lead its US operations and drive rapid revenue growth.
Process
We met the France-based CEO near the company’s US headquarters in Chicago to learn more about the situation, define the candidate specification, and to discuss the best way to present the opportunity to candidates. This preparation enabled us to present the opportunity in a compelling way and to assess candidates for experience, cultural fit, and the ability to build relationships and work effectively with colleagues in France.
Outcome
We conducted a nationwide search focused on general managers and commercial vice presidents with experience in orthopedics. Since many orthopedics companies require their employees to sign noncompete agreements, a core part of our strategy was to locate orthopedics veterans who were currently working in other parts of the medical device industry.
We presented a strong slate of finalists. The winning candidate had an exceptional background in orthopedics and a strong commercial pedigree. He rapidly remade the US operation and drove it to achieve rapid sales growth and profitability. The performance of the US business was a major factor in the company’s sale to Olympus Corporation in 2020, a deal that was an excellent outcome for investors.