Client story · Automotive

Hiring a GM Sales & BD for a Heavy Equipment Company Without Alerting a Tight-Knit Industry

45days Time to hire

6 Shortlisted candidates

100% Client satisfaction

It has been a pleasure connecting with such a thoughtful and genuine executive search professional. Their thoughtful communication, integrity, and attentive approach create an experience that feels both seamless and meaningful. What I value most is their ability to build trust through sincerity, respect, and a clear commitment to connecting the right people with the right opportunities. I would gladly recommend them to anyone seeking a trusted and distinguished recruitment partner.

HCGA Supervisor

Industry: Automotive
Job function: Sales & Business Development
Level: General Manager
Location: Jakarta

About the Company

The client is a heavy equipment and commercial vehicle company in Jakarta. At the client’s request, its identity was kept confidential throughout the search and remains confidential in this case study.

What Challenges They Faced

The client needed a General Manager to lead Sales & Business Development. Hiring at this level carries strategic weight, so the search had to stay confidential for two reasons:

A tight-knit industry. Professional networks in heavy equipment are small and closely connected. Candidates, hiring managers and competitors’ staff often know each other personally. An open search would have quickly become the subject of industry talk.
Protecting business strategy. A new GM for sales signals where a company is heading. The client needed its hiring plans and business direction kept out of competitors’ sight until the right leader was in place.

That ruled out the usual approaches: job postings, open headhunting under the company’s name and informal referrals through industry contacts.

Our approach

How Talent Hunts Helped

Anonymous company profile

During the approach and screening stages, candidates were told only the industry and the work location. The company name was not disclosed.

Staged disclosure

The client’s identity was revealed only to candidates who passed screening and were invited to interview with the hiring manager. Most people who heard about the role never learned who the client was.

Discreet direct approach

We approached senior sales and business development leaders in heavy equipment and related sectors personally, one by one, without a public posting.

Thorough assessment before disclosure

Each candidate’s commercial track record, leadership experience and fit with the role were assessed in depth before they reached the client’s interview stage. Only serious, qualified candidates ever learned the company’s name.

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