How We Placed a European Sales Manager for a US Manufacturing Firm in 4 Weeks

A man in a grey blazer pointing at a computer screen during a meeting with two colleagues in a bright office with sticky notes on the wall.
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The Challenge

A US-based manufacturing leader in fibre-reinforced urethane products had built a strong footprint across marine, automotive, and construction sectors - but needed a seasoned European Sales Manager to lead its next phase of regional growth. The role required not just sales experience, but deep sector knowledge in composite materials and the ability to hit the ground running in a new market.

Our Approach

Optima Search | Europe & America structured a four-stage process built around precision — not volume.

Two people working together at a wooden desk with laptops and paper documents covered in handwritten notes and diagrams.
  • Strategic onboarding: A 90-minute consultation with the Sales Director, HR lead, and Company President to define hiring criteria, growth strategy, and cultural fit expectations.
  • Market intelligence: A structured mapping of the composite materials talent landscape, evaluating active and passive candidates against competitive benchmarks.
  • Performance screening: Rigorous assessment of revenue growth track records, market penetration experience, and strategic sales execution.
  • Executive shortlist: From an initial pool of 8 screened professionals, 2 finalists were presented for executive interviews - both progressing to the final panel stage.

The Results

1
4 Weeks
Brief to accepted offer
2
2 Finalists
From 8 screened candidates
3
100%
Exclusive partnership model

Client Feedback

"Unlike traditional agencies that are vague about pricing and overly aggressive in securing contracts, your approach was clear, upfront, and professional. Having access to the CRM and being able to track progress in real time made a significant difference."

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