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Executive Search for Senior Leadership in Southern Africa

Industry: Retail & Building Materials
Region: Southern Africa (Mozambique & South Africa)
Service Focus: Executive Search | Market Mapping | Cross-Border Recruitment

The Challenge

A leading construction and retail supplier in Southern Africa needed to fill two critical leadership roles – Supply Chain Manager and Financial Manager, both based in Mozambique.

The search presented multiple challenges:

 Required South African candidates fluent in Portuguese, a highly niche skill set.

 Candidates needed retail leadership experience in South Africa with the ability to operate effectively in the Mozambique market.

 The client had struggled for months to identify talent with the technical expertise and cultural alignment required, delaying operational efficiency and regional expansion.

Our Solution: Executive Search & Expertise in Cross-Border Executive Recruitment

We deployed a targeted executive search strategy designed to identify and secure hard-to-find talent:

1. Market Mapping & Talent Identification

o Conducted cross-border market mapping to pinpoint where Portuguese-speaking South African executives were based.

o Developed list of qualified candidates with the right industry and cross-cultural expertise.

2. Strategic Headhunting & Engagement

o Leveraged DAV’s exclusive executive network and industry intelligence to discreetly approach high-fit candidates.

o Assessed for technical proficiency, leadership capability, and cultural adaptability to succeed in Mozambique.

3. Efficient Recruitment Process

o Executed a structured, confidential headhunting process led by Principal Consultants.

o Accelerated time-to-hire by identifying, vetting, and presenting the top candidates quickly.

Results & Business Impact

 Critical vacancies filled within X weeks, ensuring business continuity and minimal operational disruption.

 100% role alignment – both executives possessed cross-border retail expertise and Portuguese fluency.

 Immediate business impact:

o Streamlined supply chain operations and cross-border logistics efficiency

o Strengthened financial oversight and compliance for Mozambique operations

o Enabled regional expansion and sustained growth in Southern Africa

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