Client
A Middle East-based alternative investment firm serving as the Asset Manager for a 50/50 joint venture between an ADX-listed industrial business and a globally renowned investment holding company.
Assignment
International executive search to appoint the inaugural Group Chief Executive Officer of their newly established industrial growth platform, headquartered in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
The Challenge
Gerard Daniels was engaged to identify and appoint a Chief Executive Officer with deep experience in the energy services and technology sector, a proven track record of operating within a complex multi-location global environment, and direct leadership experience within the GCC region. The successful candidate would be tasked with driving accelerated value creation and providing overall leadership across the platform and portfolio companies, along with managing key stakeholders within the JV Board and ADNOC eco-system.
Our Approach
Given the complexity of the stakeholder landscape, including a JV Board-led hiring committee and significant sensitivities surrounding the appointment, Gerard Daniels conducted the search under the strictest of confidence. We leveraged our longstanding relationships across the energy and industrial sectors to discretely secure high-quality referrals and recommendations. Considering the urgent timeline and the need for precision, we adopted a tailored approach, diverging from a standard longlist/shortlist model. Instead, we engaged directly with senior, trusted and credible industry sources (relationships built by the firm over four decades) to identify and validate candidates prior to presentation, ensuring that only fully referenced and pre-qualified individuals were shortlisted and submitted.
Client Impact
Gerard Daniels successfully secured full alignment among the JV Partners, Asset Manager, and key stakeholders through a highly bespoke search process, culminating in a focused shortlist and rigorous competitive interview process. The outcome was the appointment of a widely respected, industry-recognised CEO who has delivered immediate strategic and operational impact.
Lead Search Consultant
James Christian
Managing Partner EMEA
Abu Dhabi
James Christian is a highly experienced Executive Search consultant with over 15 years’ experience across human resources and executive search. Based in the UK, he specialises in senior executive appointments across the Energy and Industrial sectors, working with clients globally across Europe, the Middle East, North America, Australia and Asia.
