Case study: Enabling global workplace leadership for a world‑leading semiconductor organisation

Hays partnered with a global semiconductor leader to appoint a senior workplace executive capable of navigating international complexity, cultural variation and stakeholder demands at scale.
 

Overview 

As the world’s leading semiconductor IP company, this technology innovator powers solutions that reach 70% of the global population. With more than 6,000 employees representing 61 nationalities, the organisation identified a critical need for an experienced Global Workplace Leader to oversee workplace and facilities management across major hubs worldwide.

Challenge 

The executive search brief was highly specialised, with the organisation requiring a leader who could bring immediate credibility and consistency to a globally distributed workplace operation.
 

Non-negotiables for the role included a leader who could navigate the following:

• Global complexity: 
  Candidates needed experience managing international teams with hybrid working patterns while balancing collaboration and business needs.

• Cultural and regional variation: 
  Workplace design and facilities requirements differed by country, so shortlisted candidates had to demonstrate expertise in adapting strategies across geographies.

• Stakeholder engagement: 
  The role required a proven ability to work with senior international stakeholders and suppliers, alongside a deep understanding of the workforce dynamics within a technology organisation.

Solution

Our Executive team conducted a comprehensive market mapping exercise, targeting director-level and above professionals in workplace and facilities management. We focused on sectors aligned with the client’s portfolio – such as technology, data centres, pharmaceuticals, and innovation – to deliver a leader who could make an impact from day one.

To meet tight timelines, we combined targeted advertising with proactive executive search services, creating early momentum and engaging high-calibre individuals at pace. This approach included sharing the organisation’s recent milestones and future aspirations to position the role as a compelling career opportunity, attracting ambitious leaders committed to steering change. 

Throughout the process, we worked closely with senior stakeholders to ensure alignment between workplace strategy, business growth objectives, and regional delivery.

Outcome 

Hays delivered a targeted global executive search that successfully balanced speed, scale and specialist capability, enabling the organisation to appoint a senior workplace leader with the credibility to operate across regions and stakeholder groups.
 

The campaign achieved:

• 20 qualified applications from senior workplace and facilities leaders across multiple sectors
• A strong and diverse shortlist, including seven A‑grade candidates
• Five shortlisted interviews, incorporating presentations to the Chief People Officer and senior global stakeholders

The process concluded with the successful appointment and onboarding of a Global Workplace Leader equipped to:

• Drive innovation across global workplace and facilities strategy
• Deliver consistency of standards while respecting regional and cultural differences
• Lead and influence senior stakeholders across international locations

As a result, the organisation was able to:

• Establish clearer leadership oversight of its global workplace portfolio
• Align workplace strategy more closely with business growth and employee experience objectives
• Build a scalable, regionally adaptable model to support continued international expansion

Ready to lead at a global scale?

Speak to our executive search specialists to access senior leaders with the experience to manage international complexity, align workplace strategy across regions, and support growth in global organisations.
 

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