California Closets’ Transformational CFO Hire through Duffy Recruitment Research™
Finance Executive Recruitment Case Study
Buttoning Up a Great Recruiting Partnership
California Closets is a premium, luxury brand driven by a powerful vision to transform lives through home environments that offer comfort, refuge and celebration. The company’s executive leaders had an ambitious plan for expanding its reach and product lines, but there was one missing piece: a top-notch CFO who embraced the company’s vision and could guide its overall growth strategy.
The Recruitment Challenge
Historically, California Closets handled hiring internally, relying heavily on employee referrals. However, for this critical role, CEO Bill Barton and Chief Human Resources Officer Carol Summersgill knew they would need to take a different approach to find a high-caliber candidate with the right skills and who was a cultural fit for the company.
They considered traditional recruiting options but selected Duffy Group for its out-of-the-box thinking and efficient, effective and economical methods of matching top talent with the companies that need them. This would require finance recruiters capable of understanding not just the role but also the company’s culture and overarching goals.
The Strategy
Employing the Duffy Recruitment Research™ model, the Duffy team identified finance-focused leaders to partner with the executive team and drive the company’s financial growth and strategic direction. They performed an in-depth assessment of the company’s culture, personality, projects and strategic plan, including a visit to the manufacturing facility for comprehensive operational insights.
The team then refined the CFO role’s requirements, responsibilities and skill set and began identifying candidates whose background, education and experience perfectly aligned with the company’s needs.
The Duffy Difference
Duffy Group presented ten qualified candidates, with eight advancing to interviews. The selection was narrowed down to two top contenders. Despite the executive team’s initial indecision, guidance from our practice leader made the choice of a CPA experienced in CFO roles within the retail sector. This true partnership led to a terrific hire, satisfying the client and adding a valuable asset to the company’s executive leadership.
In Their Own Words
“Our partnership with Sharon and Duffy Group was efficient, fluid and highly effective. From the very beginning Sharon worked to understand our business, our needs and our culture. The entire process was collaborative and comprehensive. She did a lot of research in the market and was very helpful in suggesting different ideas for our search. Sharon was responsive and we were kept informed at every step of the way. I also appreciated that we were able to tailor the search process to meet our business needs. It was nice to have that flexibility. The Duffy Group’s model is progressive and adaptable. And, in the end we got a fabulous CFO too!”
Carol Summersgill, CHRO
The Informed Way with Duffy Recruitment Research™
Unlike contingent search’s quantity over quality approach, and retained search’s costlier upfront fees, Duffy Recruitment Research™ is a customized, research-driven recruitment strategy that delivers a short list of interested qualified candidates and market data for smarter hiring strategies. It’s insightful, cost-effective and future proof. Ready to make the informed choice in hiring?
