
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