Built three group functional leaders into a Saudi industrial holding portfolio of eight operating companies, in 13 weeks.

The mandate

A Saudi industrial holding company, listed on Tadawul and operating eight companies across diversified industrial sectors, engaged us in 2024 to strengthen its group-level functional leadership. Under a CEO-led growth and consolidation agenda, the institution required senior leaders capable of operating not at single-company level but across a multi-entity industrial portfolio with its own internal heterogeneity of operational rhythm and strategic dynamic.

Three roles anchored the brief: a Senior Legal Manager (KSA national), a Group Head of M&A and a Group Head of Internal Audit. Each required a rare combination of strategic oversight at group level and operational depth within complex group structures, particularly within the Middle East. The Group Head of M&A demanded a proven track record executing multi-million dollar transactions while balancing stakeholder alignment at both board and executive levels.

The challenge was less about filling roles and more about identifying leaders capable of standing alongside a CEO running a transformation programme across eight operating companies simultaneously. JOH Partners worked closely with the Board and CEO to navigate this challenge, ensuring alignment between candidate capability, organisational culture, and long-term strategic objectives.

Our approach

Our work ran across four numbered phases.

01. Calibration

Two weeks. We ran joint calibration sessions with the CEO, the Chair, and the relevant board committees for each role. Output: three single-page mandate briefs, each signed off by the CEO, defining off-limits, success criteria and the explicit governance interface each role would inherit.

02. Market mapping

Two weeks, three parallel maps. Each role was mapped across three concentric circles: KSA-resident senior functional leaders, GCC-resident leaders with credible KSA institutional fluency, and international leaders with relevant Tadawul-listed exposure. The Senior Legal Manager mandate was nationality-locked from day one.

03. Longlist research

Five weeks. From the mapped market we ran primary research conversations against role-specific calibration criteria, with daily triage. Roughly one in four mapped candidates progressed to qualified longlist; roughly one in three of those progressed to shortlist.

04. Shortlist and assessment

Four weeks. Five to seven candidates per role were presented with full assessment dossiers. Final-round selection was sequenced over the final two weeks; all three offers signed by week thirteen.

The other roles delivered

The talent market intelligence section below covers the Group Head of M&A seat. The mandate also delivered two further appointments.

Senior Legal Manager (KSA national). Senior legal lead with extensive regulatory experience, brought in to run group legal across the eight-company portfolio with direct reporting to the Group CEO.

Group Head of Internal Audit. Audit and compliance specialist with detailed knowledge of local regulatory frameworks, hired to build the internal audit function across the group.

The outcome

Three offers were signed within thirteen weeks of engagement. All three remain in seat at twelve months. The hires have empowered the institution to advance its growth strategy, strengthening its leadership team and positioning the group for sustained execution across a diversified industrial portfolio.

The team

The mandate was led by the partner heading our Group Holdings practice, supported by a research director (full-time across thirteen weeks), a market analyst (full-time across six weeks) and a delivery PM (full-time throughout). Quarterly retention check-ins continue as part of our 24-month standing commitment.

Three roles, three timelines, one transformation. JOH ran the work as a single integrated programme, every conversation calibrated, every shortlist sequenced. The work let us strengthen the group functional layer without slowing the operating companies.