Case Study - Head of R&D for a Pune-based auto component MNC

Client context

A well-established multinational auto component company based in Pune was embarking on a strategic transformation. With rapid advancements in technology, the organization aimed to diversify into a new product line and set up an advanced R&D centre to drive innovation and future growth.

A critical first step in this journey was hiring a Head of R&D to lead this new initiative.

The challenge

The client had been searching for several months but was unable to identify a suitable candidate. The mandate was particularly challenging due to:

• The niche nature of the technology and product segment
• A limited talent pool in India with relevant experience
• The need for a leader who could build and scale an R&D function from the ground up

Traditional search approaches were not yielding results, as the required expertise was concentrated within a very small group of professionals.

Our approach

Beacon Solutions worked closely with the client to map the talent landscape and identify potential sources of relevant expertise. We quickly recognized that:

• The required skill set existed within a very limited set of organizations globally and in India
• A targeted, intelligence-led search would be more effective than broad-based sourcing

Through our network, we identified a multinational company with a similar product line and learned that some of their experienced professionals had exited due to a plant relocation. We narrowed our search to this highly relevant talent pool and engaged with key individuals from this ecosystem. We identified a highly suitable candidate who had recently moved to another MNC and was not actively seeking a change.

While this candidate was not available, our engagement led to a valuable referral—a professional who was still with the original organization and open to the right opportunity.

The outcome

Building on this referral, we initiated discussions with the candidate, assessed alignment across technical expertise, leadership capability, and cultural fit, and successfully closed the mandate within 4–5 weeks of first contact.

The candidate joined as Head of R&D, bringing the required domain expertise and leadership to establish and scale the new R&D centre.

What we did

Key takeaway

This engagement highlights the power of targeted search and network-driven intelligence in solving niche hiring challenges—especially when the right talent lies within a highly concentrated and often inaccessible ecosystem.