OEM Executive Search: Building Trust to Secure Leadership Talent

Navigating a Limited and Competitive Talent Market

The OEM market is highly competitive, with niche and limited talent pools that create unique challenges for businesses when it comes to executive hiring. The best candidates are rarely on the market actively seeking new opportunities, they are already established in senior positions and must be engaged through a targeted and confidential headhunting approach. This is where industry recruitment specialists add immense value to the hiring process.

The client required an executive search partner who understood the technical skills sought after and could identify transferable skillsets from other industries where necessary. This required deep market knowledge, a consultative approach, and the ability to advise with authority on everything from salary benchmarking to long-term talent strategy.

A Consultative Executive Search Partnership

The partnership began following an introduction made by CSG Talent. The business was impressed by the calibre of candidate presented, with CSG Talent demonstrating their industry expertise and knowledge. Shortly after the initial introduction, the business retained CSG Talent to lead the search for a Marketing and Communications Manager.

Within a few weeks, CSG Talent delivered a strong shortlist before successfully filling the role. The heavy equipment team proved how valuable an executive search partner can be in identifying top talent at pace, without compromising on quality. Since this success, CSG Talent has worked closely with the business as their dedicated executive search partner.

Over the course of the partnership, CSG Talent has successfully filled the following roles:

• Marketing and Communications Manager - Italy
• Head of Product Management – Aftermarket - Italy
• Managing Director – Aftermarket - Italy
• Sales Manager – South Africa

When working on a retained basis, CSG Talent commits additional, dedicated resources to searches, market mapping, and candidate attraction, ensuring a process with pace and focus. Clients also benefit from a trusted advisory partner who demonstrates a consultative approach throughout. For candidates, this exclusivity signals a serious and genuine opportunity from a committed business, enhancing the candidate experience. This approach allows CSG Talent to engage senior-level talent who may not typically consider new roles.

With deep knowledge of the OEM and aftermarket space, Harry Rayfield and the heavy equipment executive search team offer straight-talking, consultative advice to senior leadership teams, frequently advising on salary benchmarking and market insights. When budgets don’t align with expectations, CSG Talent explain the options available and identify candidates from adjacent industries who bring the right skills to the role. The team’s direct communication has helped build long-term trust with the client’s leadership team.

CSG Talent also invests in building relationships beyond the recruitment process, exemplified by a client interaction where Harry travelled overseas to visit the business. This visit allowed Harry to gain a deeper understanding of their culture, challenges, and growth goals.