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Finding Technical Leadership with plant level expertise, strategic leadership and commercial acumen
A multinational food manufacturing business needed to replace a Quality Director in Malaysia on a confidential basis. The role demanded a rare combination: technical credibility on the plant floor, and commercial fluency across a fast-moving regional business.
THE CHALLENGE
Every search has its own complexity, but this one sat at the meeting point of skills sets that can be difficult to acquire in one person; deep technical credibility in quality and food safety, strategic leadership and commercial awareness to navigate across a highly dynamic and complex business.
The ability to stay hands-on at plant level across multiple sites, actively improving technical capability rather than managing the function from a distance was critical but so was strategic thinking and leadership, alongside the range to connect with commercial and supply chain stakeholders at a regional level. The ideal candidate would ideally be based in Malaysia.
THE SOLUTION
Miramar created a clear search strategy and made the client aware of the potential challenges related to the search from the outset. That included being clear on what was non-negotiable in the candidate profile and what was desirable, and aligning on the assessment criteria each candidate would be measured against.
Within two weeks, initial profiles went to the client for collaborative review, alongside a discussion of the market dynamics and insight relevant to the search, and the interview process began immediately. By five weeks, the market had been fully mapped and the strongest candidates identified, giving the client the very best talent available in the local market. Miramar also extended the search into other countries across Southeast Asia, to fully understand the possibilities available.
- Strong understanding of the market dynamics before the search began
- A business partnering relationship with the client, and deep cultural alignment
- Honesty and transparency throughout the process
Every candidate discussed with the client was assessed jointly by two Miramar consultants, bringing together deep regional QFS hiring experience with a specialist colleague focused on niche mandates, so each candidate was rigorously and fairly assessed.
THE RESULT
Five candidates were shortlisted, with two presented to the client as finalists. The search closed within twelve weeks, completing in early January 2026. The offer was made to the client's first-choice candidate, who accepted.
The impact
Since starting, the candidate has successfully passed probation in a highly dynamic and demanding environment, progressed well with the technical challenges related to the role, and earned the respect of a sizeable team quickly.
It's the kind of outcome that reflects how Lisa works, not just what she delivered on this search. As the hiring manager, put it:
"I have worked with Lisa as a candidate and as a client. She takes time to understand people and the companies she works with. She is astute at bridging the technical and commercial gap and she goes the extra mile until the candidate is embedded in the role. I highly recommend her."
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