Case Study: VP Hire – Clean-Energy Autos, Investment Banking

The Brief

We were retained by a leading global investment bank to find an experienced VP for their autos team, with a specific focus on clean energy. The brief required a VP2–VP3 with strong Industrials execution experience, proven team leadership, and the commercial edge to progress quickly to director and MD level. Only candidates from top-tier global banks or elite boutiques were considered.

Our Approach

We began by aligning stakeholders through a structured assessment matrix and scorecard that covered deal execution, leadership behaviours, sector motivation, and long-term commercial potential. It was made clear to usthat the client would be interviewing this person as an 'MD-lite".

Our search focused on two calibrated talent pools:

• M&A bankers who had moved into major OEMs or EV challengers, particularly those affected by recent reductions in European clean-energy subsidies.
• Active investment bankers at bulge brackets and elite boutiques across the UK, France, Germany, and the US, with a minimum of five years' M&A training.

Execution

Within two weeks we built a proprietary market map of 15 qualified bankers who met the brief academically, technically, and culturally. Ten engaged positively at approach. Following screening and referencing, we shortlisted three candidates.

Outcome

Our client hired one of the three shortlisted candidates: a VP3 with a clean-energy background and an engineering foundation, who was willing to repeat their VP3 year in order to secure the move.

We managed the entire process, including sensitive negotiations on title, compensation, and trajectory, resulting in a successful hire and a strengthened Autos bench.

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