Industrial and Manufacturing
Aligning Operational Excellence with Global Growth
Context
A high-growth technology company operating in the field of advanced robotics and logistics systems needed to strengthen its executive team with the appointment of a Global Director of Operational Excellence. The company, known for its innovative engineering capabilities, was scaling internationally and required leadership to support the harmonization of operational performance across markets. This position, based in Northern France, was a key pillar in reinforcing global execution standards and supporting the rapid internationalization of the business.
The timing was strategic. With new contracts and expansions underway, the leadership team needed someone capable of bridging engineering complexity with operational pragmatism, all while operating in a context of scale and speed.
Challenges
The role involved frequent international travel and oversight of diverse teams operating under different industrial and cultural conditions. A strong knowledge of special machinery and logistics environments was essential, but profiles combining these experiences were rare. The market offered few candidates with both technical depth and the strategic maturity required to operate globally.
Additionally, the role had to be filled without slowing ongoing initiatives. The company was looking for someone capable of contributing from day one, which added pressure to both the precision and pace of the search.
our approach
Fauve worked in close alignment with the executive team to clarify the boundaries of the role and define realistic trade-offs. We focused on candidates with experience managing performance across multiple geographies and with exposure to continuous improvement frameworks in manufacturing environments.
Our approach emphasized dialogue and responsiveness. The search evolved dynamically as candidates were evaluated and the scope of the role better understood. Thanks to a high level of engagement from all stakeholders, we were able to stay agile and maintain momentum. The process required both technical screening and strategic conversation to ensure alignment on expectations and readiness.
The impact
The placement brought a structured yet adaptable leader into the organization—someone with prior experience in scaling operations globally and leading transformation across engineering-heavy contexts. The new Director quickly contributed to cross-functional alignment and played a pivotal role in optimizing key operational streams.
This recruitment reinforced the company’s ability to support its international growth with consistent standards and a culture of operational discipline. The successful outcome was a result of mutual commitment, responsiveness, and shared clarity on what excellence looked like in this context.