Consulting, technology and professional services
Driving Transformation Through Talent: A Case Study in Change Management Recruitment
Context
A leading Canadian retailer launched a strategic initiative to reimagine the customer experience across its operations. As part of this effort, a new internal consulting team was established to lead enterprise-wide transformation projects. To guide this effort, the company sought a Director of Change Management who could act as a true change agent — not only managing processes, but also enabling cultural shifts across a complex, matrixed structure, while working closely with senior leadership. The mandate was not about incremental change; it was about enabling a different way of working at scale.
Challenges
The ideal profile proved difficult to define and even harder to source. Individuals with experience in comparable transformation work were often operating at a VP or partner level in consulting, and their compensation expectations were not aligned with the internal framework for the role. In addition, the formal job title didn’t fully reflect the strategic nature of the work, creating a perception gap for top-tier candidates. Success depended not only on finding the right experience, but on identifying someone who would recognize the potential of the opportunity — a flexible, team-driven environment, and a mandate with clear executive sponsorship.
our approach
Fauve adopted a focused and collaborative approach, working closely with the leadership team to clarify what was essential and where there was room to flex. This allowed us to iterate quickly and present a diverse range of candidates, including hybrid profiles with both consulting and in-house experience, as well as high-potential leaders ready to step into a transformative mandate. We positioned the role not just as a job, but as a chance to shape major initiatives from day one — with real visibility, trust, and impact.
The impact
The selected candidate quickly established themselves as a key driver of change. Several years later, their leadership is evident in the successful rollout of new technology platforms that have materially improved the retail experience. Beyond operations, the cultural impact has been significant — reinforcing collaboration, agility, and continuous improvement across teams.