Ziemann Holvrieka’s Japanese Market Entry with FocusCore

Introduction

Ziemann Holvrieka is a global market leader in designing and manufacturing advanced stainless steel tanks and process technology for the brewing, beverage, and liquid food industries. Renowned for its innovation, their state-of-the-art equipment and services cater to diverse global clients, making them a trusted partner for many leading industry brands.

The company had been steadily expanding its global presence and was setting its sights on Japan with the plan to establish a new branch in the country. To that end Ziemann Holvrieka was seeking to hire a Managing Director to lead operations and foster partnerships with major Japanese beverage brands.

Problem

Ziemann Holvrieka faced a dual challenge in their expansion efforts. First, the company had no prior experience operating in Japan, making it difficult to navigate the local business landscape and recruit a top-tier candidate. Additionally, language barriers further complicated these efforts, ruling out the possibility of assigning someone from headquarters. At the same time, despite their global industry reputation, the company was virtually unknown in the Japanese market.
 Headquarters in Germany acknowledged the necessity of securing a candidate deeply acquainted with the nuances of the Japanese market and culture. Their search focused on individuals proficient in both Japanese and English, and preferably German, ensuring seamless communication channels between the Japanese operations and the German HQ. Such a candidate would need the drive and resilience to establish and grow an unfamiliar brand from the ground up.

Approach and Methodology

Upon engagement, FocusCore embarked on a holistic strategy to tackle Ziemann Holvrieka’s challenge. The first phase entailed extensive consultations aimed at grasping the company’s unique requirements, cultural nuances, and growth aspirations. Through a meticulous needs assessment, FocusCore gleaned invaluable insights into the pivotal skills, qualifications, and organizational alignment essential for the role.

Solution and Implementation

While remaining open-minded regarding candidates’ backgrounds, preference was granted to individuals possessing a profound understanding of the manufacturing sector, with a secondary emphasis on experience within the food and beverage industry, particularly in the context of Japan.

Beyond active candidates, FocusCore tapped into passive talent, identifying and approaching nearly 50 potentials. This strategic approach resulted in a longlist of candidates, of which Ziemann Holvrieka’s management agreed to interview 5. After the selection process, FocusCore assisted to ensure a seamless transition for onboarding.

Additionally, FocusCore supported Ziemann Holvrieka in various country-specific challenges such as determining local salaries, managing payroll, and setting up a legal entity in Japan.

Results and Impact

The partnership between Ziemann Holvrieka and FocusCore delivered outstanding outcomes. In just 2.5 months, a top-tier manager was seamlessly appointed to the pivotal role, surpassing the client’s expectations.
The selected candidate boasted a robust manufacturing background, having previously helmed a German company in Japan with notable success. With nearly two decades of residency in Japan, he exhibits a profound familiarity with Japanese business practices and cultural intricacies. Hailing from Germany, he possesses fluency in three languages: German, English, and Japanese, ensuring smooth communication with contacts in Japan and with HQ.

Lessons Learned

Throughout this journey, Ziemann Holvrieka gained a deep appreciation for the pivotal role of tapping into external expertise to optimize their recruitment strategy. This involved meticulously charting the expansive Tokyo (and broader Japanese) talent landscape, with a particular emphasis on passive candidates.

FocusCore emerged as a steadfast ally for the company, serving as the primary resource for all future hiring requisites within Japan. Notably, the Managing Director witnessed FocusCore’s exemplary performance from both the client and candidate perspectives, deeply valuing the refined processes and unparalleled expertise that FocusCore brought to the table.