Case Study

Strategic CFO Placement Fuels Growth for International Family-Owned Metalworking Company

Discover how Boyden’s targeted executive search placed a high-impact CFO for a growing, family-owned metalworking business, reinforcing its financial foundation, enhancing controls and reporting, and supporting sustainable, long-term growth across global markets.

By Helga Kayser-Dörr

The Client

Boyden’s client is a globally active, medium-sized family-owned company specializing in metalworking, with a focus on developing medical implants. The company designs and manufactures customized solutions and specialty products for a range of applications.

The Challenge

To support growth, professionalization, and the expansion of its market leadership, the company decided to add a CFO to its previously two-person Executive Board. The new role would be pivotal in establishing financial foundations for long-term growth and in scaling the group’s operating companies through enhanced commercial oversight.

Further development of the organizational structure and corporate financing

The company’s dynamic expansion required strategic updates to its organizational structures and financial processes. Key focus areas included timely execution of quarterly and annual financial statements, effective financial management across the group, and a robust corporate financing strategy.

Expansion of internal reporting and controlling mechanisms

To manage increasing financial and tax complexity, the company sought a CFO capable of designing and implementing strong reporting and controlling systems. These tools would serve not as constraints but as enablers of sustainable business development.

The Solution

To clearly define expectations for the new CFO role, Boyden’s Managing Partner led an in-depth consultation process with the shareholders and current leadership. Through trusted collaboration and a structured, partner-led search, we swiftly identified and secured an exceptional candidate. The selected CFO brought a unique blend of experience from international corporations and mid-sized enterprises (including private equity-backed, family-owned, and publicly listed companies), along with deep expertise in organizational development and transformation.

The Results

In the first year, the newly appointed CFO drew on his extensive experience as a Group CFO to deliver meaningful outcomes, including:

  • Enhancing group-wide reporting structures
  • Reviewing and redesigning corporate financing, while expanding relationships with lenders and financial partners
  • Implementing new controlling tools to improve financial management
  • Supporting revenue growth through streamlined commercial processes and governance

Impact

Boyden’s successful placement of a strategic CFO laid the foundation for the company’s next phase of development. The implementation of more effective structures and controls reduced internal workload and enabled another year of strong, sustainable growth, demonstrating the immediate and lasting value of placing the right leadership at a critical inflection point.

About the Author

Helga Kayser-Dörr
Helga Kayser-Dörr
Managing Partner, Germany
Global Practice Leader, Industrial

Helga Kayser-Dörr is Managing Partner and has advised mid-sized and large family-owned businesses as well as diversified multinational industrial conglomerates on top-level executive and board appointments for over 25 years. She has deep expertise in the manufacturing industry and serves as Global Leader of Boyden’s Industrial Practice. Working closely with owners, boards and senior leadership teams, she advises on complex leadership decisions and supports clients in identifying leaders with the right long-term fit for the role, the organization and its strategic direction, particularly during periods of transformation, growth and succession.

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