MA Executive were exclusively retained by National Express Group to recruit a permanent Group Finance Director to replace an underperforming executive at a time when the business was going through a significant period of change and transformation. Up to that point, the business had made a number of strategic acquisitions but the integration of those businesses had been tempered through poor decision making. It was imperative that that the incoming Group Finance Director would develop and drive a new strategy to ensure the expanded business delivered efficiencies, enabled key competencies to be shared across the business and provided a sustainable platform for future growth.
In tandem with the search assignment, MA Executive were asked to source an interim executive to support the incumbent Group Finance Director (in part due to capability concerns and a possible flight risk) to provide some much needed stability and focus on ensuring the finance infrastructure was sound, robust and fit for purpose. MA Executive recruited a seasoned interim finance executive who was given the key responsibility to provide financial direction and integrate financial initiatives that support the business and improve systems, controls and processes whilst recruitment of a permanent Group Finance Director took place. Once the recruitment had been successfully completed, the interim executive was asked to stay on for a further 4 months working alongside the new Group Finance Director to ensure a smooth transition and handover.