The Client
Our client is an internationally active, mid-sized company and a leading provider of building and façade automation solutions. The company develops, manufactures, and markets intelligent systems for sustainable indoor climate control, fire safety, and energy efficiency.
Its solutions are deployed in demanding environments including office buildings, educational institutions, hospitals, and museums.
The Challenge
As part of its growth strategy and planned international expansion, the company sought a new Chief Operating Officer (COO) to scale its global supply chain and operational processes while driving the development of new assembly capacity in the United States.
The mandate extended beyond operational excellence. The COO would also serve as Managing Director of the German subsidiary, manage cooperation with the works council, and professionalize end-to-end processes across the organization.
The ideal candidate needed proven expertise in Lean Management, Change Management, and international supply chain optimization, ideally gained within a complex manufacturing environment.
The Solution
Boyden conducted a structured, partner-led search focused on executives with demonstrated expertise in production optimization, Lean methodologies, and international operations management.
Following in-depth briefings with the CEO and CFO, Boyden worked with the client to clearly define the success criteria for the role. The selected candidate held a Master's degree in Industrial Engineering and brought extensive experience in Lean implementation and process optimization gained across leading industrial companies.
His track record included the rollout of group-wide Lean initiatives, significant productivity improvements, and leadership of complex production and logistics operations. Combined with an entrepreneurial approach and international mindset, this experience closely matched the requirements of the mandate.
The Results
The selected candidate assumed the dual role of COO and Managing Director of the German entity, with responsibility for global supply chain and operations.
Within his first months, he had:
- Implemented a structured Lean approach across the entire supply chain.
- Optimized KPI-driven control mechanisms for production and logistics.
- Advanced preparations for U.S. expansion through the planning of new assembly capacity.
- Strengthened collaboration with the works council and established a more transparent communication culture.
The Impact
The appointment has strengthened the company's operational capabilities as it pursues sustainable growth and international expansion.
By combining technical expertise, operational leadership, and change management experience, the new COO is helping the company improve efficiency, strengthen its global supply chain, and prepare its operations for the next stage of growth.
