Case Study - CFO hiring for a global adhesives company in Pune

Client context

A leading multinational adhesives company was in the process of strengthening its India operations and was looking to hire a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for its Indian subsidiary based in Pune. The role was critical to supporting the company's growth plans and ensuring strong financial governance in a dynamic regulatory environment.

Despite an extended internal search effort, the client was unable to identify a candidate who met the full spectrum of requirements.

The challenge

The mandate required a unique combination of capabilities:

• Strong manufacturing finance experience
• Deep understanding of India's regulatory and compliance framework
• Established relationships with key banking partners
• Ability to operate in a multinational environment

The client's initial preference for candidates with a formal Chartered Accountant (CA) qualification further narrowed the talent pool, making it difficult to find the right fit.

Our approach

Beacon Solutions partnered closely with the client to refine the search strategy. We identified that the success of the role depended less on formal qualifications and more on:

• Practical exposure to manufacturing finance
• Proven ability to navigate regulatory complexities in India
• Strong stakeholder management, particularly with financial institutions
• Cultural fit and leadership style aligned with the organization

Based on this, we advised the client to adopt a more skills-first approach, allowing flexibility on formal degrees while prioritizing relevant experience and leadership capability.

The outcome

Through a focused and targeted search, Beacon Solutions successfully identified and placed a candidate with:

• 18 years of relevant experience
• Strong background in manufacturing finance
• Demonstrated expertise in regulatory compliance and banking relationships

Over the past 12 months, the candidate has settled seamlessly into the role, strengthened the finance function, and supported team expansion initiatives aligned with the company's growth plans.

What we did

Key takeaway

This engagement highlights the importance of redefining hiring criteria based on role success factors rather than rigid qualifications, especially for leadership roles in specialized sectors.