Consumers throughout Europe have become ever more knowledgeable and demanding in their requirements. While consumer
confidence has generally remained at high levels there have been and are significant differences between countries
attributable to income differences and demographics.
Increasing sophistication on the part of the consumer means that companies that are to succeed need to be able
to respond to rapidly changing consumer tastes and demands, changing business environments and ever increasing
competition against a background where news of new products and services can spread across the world in minutes.
Understanding the consumer today not only means understanding the requirements of the local market but also
understanding how these are integrated into a larger regional or global picture.
In Europe the single market is already a reality and while people demand to have access to the same products
and services throughout the European Union, it is balanced by a desire to have national or regional variances
reflected in the products and services offered. Companies involved in pan-European consumer markets must thus
necessarily balance the quest for global approaches and the drive for economies of scale, with an appreciation
of the increasing importance of local tastes and identification.
The successful managers of today and tomorrow will be those who can match the increasing sophistication of consumers
to a background of challenging and at times paradoxical drivers.
Finding people to undertake such roles is a key task for any successful recruitment and demands a unique understanding
of both the markets and economic circumstances in which companies are operating.
A key strength of our Consumer Markets Sector of Excellence throughout Europe lies in the experience and diversity
of the consultants. By design our consumer practice teams are international and multi-cultural and every member
has an in-depth knowledge and operational experience in one or more consumer goods or service sectors. This
enables us to precisely tailor search assignments to take into account clients market position, their corporate
identity and to match this with a clear understanding of the challenges that will face them in one local market
or across the whole of Europe.
Successful searches in the sector have included: Worldwide Marketing Manager (Mass Market Cosmetics), VP International
(Selective Cosmetics), Senior Sales Executives (Telecom service provider), E-Commerce Director (Retail), International
Sales Director (Mass Market Cosmetics), Regional Director (Leisure), Sales Director (Food) amongst others.
