Radiance Energy: Scaling a European Solar Developer Through Strategic Executive Search

Strengthening Leadership Capability Ahead of Investment and Expansion

When CSG Talent first engaged with Ikaros Solar in 2018, the business was in a position to grow and enhance the leadership team to enable their next phase of growth. Ikaros Solar was preparing for potential private equity investment, and this meant developing an executive team with strong industry experience and the ability to rapidly scale a business with investor backing, an area CSG Talent has vast experience supporting businesses in.

Recruiting in this environment presents unique challenges. Solar developers operate within an extremely limited talent pool, and individuals with experience in technical project delivery, commercial growth, and strategic leadership are scarce. Additionally, the company required candidates with the necessary skillsets and vision to effectively adapt to its fast-paced environment. Because of these niche requirements, traditional recruitment methods would not be enough to source the specific qualities needed for the roles.

Ikaros Solar required an executive search partner able to provide consistent, high-quality results across multiple senior and technical hires. CSG Talent was positioned to deliver this through specialist renewable energy expertise, an extensive international network, and a relationship-led approach that ensured every search was tailored precisely to the company’s needs.

A Precise Executive Search Model Built on Industry Expertise

CSG Talent approached the partnership with a long-term mindset, investing significant time into understanding Ikaros Solar’s business model, culture, and growth plans. Early in the relationship, renewable energy recruitment specialist Michael Isle met Yves in person to gain deeper insight into his leadership style and the type of professionals that would help the organisation develop. This consultative approach was the foundation of a partnership built on trust and clear communication.

Over time, CSG Talent became closely integrated with the business by maintaining ongoing contact with Yves and other senior leaders, including Technical Director Domingos Morgado, who later became COO. By building strong relationships across the leadership team, CSG Talent gained a clear understanding of the company’s technical demands, challenges, and future plans. This level of understanding allowed for a highly targeted executive search strategy that consistently delivered candidates capable of growing with the organisation.

CSG Talent conducted detailed market mapping to identify individuals from organisations of the right size and technical expertise. The renewable energy team leveraged their specialist network to target passive candidates that were not actively seeking new roles but possessed the skills and experience the company required. Because the talent pool was limited, the ability to engage this passive talent was essential to the company’s hiring success.

This approach proved particularly valuable during key decision-making periods. When Yves informed CSG Talent in 2022 that he was planning to step back from the business, the company needed a Deputy CEO capable of ensuring a stable transition. At the same time, private equity firm Eurazeo expressed interest in acquiring a majority stake. Given the significance of this change, Ikaros Solar appointed CSG Talent as its exclusive recruitment partner. This decision reflected confidence in the precision and expertise already demonstrated across previous senior placements.

Throughout the investment and rebranding period, CSG Talent worked closely with both the existing leadership team and Eurazeo to understand what the next phase of growth required. The partnership expanded to include searches for commercial, operational, and technical specialists across the European market. As the business rebranded to Radiance Energy, there was an urgent need for talent capable of driving rapid expansion in new regions.

One of the most valuable aspects of CSG Talent’s executive search service was the precision demonstrated when candidates were shortlisted. Every person presented had been evaluated not only for skills and experience but also for their ability to contribute to wider commercial goals. This reduced the time burden for Radiance Energy and ensured they could trust that every profile submitted had been thoroughly assessed and would have a meaningful impact on the business. As the CEO role had been placed by CSG Talent, the newly appointed leader had full trust in the team’s understanding of the business and continued to rely exclusively on their expertise.