Delivering a smooth Head of Finance Recruitment Process for Mondelez Japan

Introduction: Mondelez, a renowned and successful NASDAQ-listed company in the FMCG industry, with successful operations in Japan. 

Problem: Mondelez had a sudden and unexpected need for a Head of Finance and came to FocusCore looking for support. The pressures of time meant that they needed someone quickly, with good English, finance business partnering experience and exposure to working in international companies. Further challenges included the timing of the kickoff for the search, with it being just before the year-end holiday when sourcing and screening talent is negatively impacted by people being on leave and unavailable. 

Approach and Methodology: FocusCore enabled a comprehensive approach to deal with the challenge. Initially, FocusCore met with the APAC Stakeholders to understand the company’s specific requirements, culture, and growth objectives, as well as the role of the Finance team in company activities. 

Solution and Implementation: FocusCore worked closely with Mondelez to design a tailored solution that accelerated the recruitment process. Together, they refined the candidate screening and selection by revamping job descriptions, crafting targeted interview questions, and setting clear evaluation criteria. FocusCore reviewed over 250 active and passive candidates through thorough market mapping, screening 30 of them. A shortlist of 4 top candidates was then introduced for the APAC CFO to meet.

Results and Impact: Through a rigorous, collaborative search process, a strong candidate was placed in the key position just 7 weeks after his profile was first submitted, enabling Mondelez to advance their strategic goals swiftly. The candidate brought the necessary finance expertise, extensive leadership experience in international comapnies, and strong cultural alignment, making an immediate impact on the department’s performance and overall company success. This successful recruitment not only filled a critical gap but also boosted employee morale, fostering a positive work environment.

Lessons Learned: Leveraging our expertise to streamline the recruitment process, map the Tokyo and broader Japan market for passive talent, and maintain a clear focus on expediting hiring were all crucial to filling this key role. As a result, Mondelez has continued to trust FocusCore with engagements for other specialized positions.