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From Critical Hire to COO in 90 Days in a High Growth PE Backed Business

A global airline services business, recently acquired by a private equity investor and entering a phase of accelerated US expansion, required a high-impact SVP of Operations, East to lead its largest and most complex region.

This role was critical to stabilising performance, scaling operations, and building leadership capability during a period of rapid organisational change.

Case Study Details

The Challenge

The business was executing a significant post acquisition transformation. This included relocating its global headquarters to the US, reshaping the executive leadership team, and driving operational performance across a complex, multi site network.

The brief required a senior operations leader able to operate at scale, lead in a unionised and service intensive environment, and elevate performance across frontline and regional leadership teams.

Success in the role required more than operational delivery. The high-impact candidate needed to define future operating structure, strengthen leadership capability, and support a business preparing for sustained high growth.

The available talent pool was limited. Very few candidates combined the required sector exposure, leadership maturity, and experience operating in similarly complex and high growth environments.

The Solution

Pacific International Executive Search led a structured discovery and calibration process with the executive team to define success outcomes, leadership profile, and target market.

The search strategy targeted senior operations leaders across airline services, aviation adjacent sectors, food services, logistics, and other high complexity operating environments. The team placed a deliberate focus on both sector expertise and transferable leadership capability.

A shortlist of seven high calibre executives was delivered, each assessed against operational scale, transformation experience, and leadership impact. One candidate demonstrated clear alignment across all criteria, combining deep industry experience with a proven record of scaling operations and leading through change.

The process was executed at pace with disciplined assessment, clear stakeholder alignment, and efficient offer management. The search completed ahead of the agreed timeline.

The Results

The successful candidate joined within 60 days of search launch, exceeding the original timeline.

Within three months, he was promoted to Chief Operating Officer, reflecting immediate impact and leadership effectiveness at scale.

Pacific’s partnership with the business has continued beyond the initial placement. Current work includes building the national operations leadership team to support ongoing expansion and organisational redesign.

This engagement reflects Pacific International’s approach to long term partnership: delivering critical step-up leadership hires, strengthening leadership teams, and supporting clients through sustained transformation and growth.

The client commented on its Trusted Partnership with Pacific International Executive Search:

“Our success begins with our people. Attracting and empowering exceptional talent—especially within our leadership team—is at the heart of our commitment to service excellence and creating value for our clients. As we continue our transformation journey, having the right individuals in place reflects our dedication to fostering growth, collaboration, and a culture that drives our company forward.”