Finding a Sales Director Placement in a Niche Sports Market

The Challenge:

The client was expanding operations in the Middle East and needed a senior sales professional to spearhead growth in a highly specific sporting segment. This posed a unique challenge as the expertise required was both niche and rarely found in the region. The role demanded proven success in closing deals within this sporting market, alongside a deep understanding of the products and networks essential to success. Identifying such talent meant effectively searching for a “unicorn” in an exceptionally limited pool.

Our Solution:

To meet this challenge, the recruitment team adopted a proactive and highly targeted approach:

• Mapped the Market: Used specialised keywords to identify scarce talent pools and researched competitor organisations within the region to create a wider picture of the market.
• Leveraged Networks: Activated internal and external connections, gathering recommendations and insights to uncover hidden talent in the sporting sector.
• Applied Tailored Strategies: Maintained strict evaluation criteria to ensure candidates possessed both sector expertise and direct experience within the niche sporting area.

The Outcome:

A strong candidate was identified and placed in the role within two weeks of introduction, reflecting the precision of the search process. The individual not only brought significant expertise in the sporting sector but also strong familiarity with the region and industry competitors. Their placement is expected to deliver a transformative impact for the client.

With deep knowledge of the sporting sector and proven success in engaging with high-value clients, the successful individual is able to build business units from scratch, enabling rapid regional growth. Being based in the Middle East also means this candidate has experience with regional market dynamics, crucial for this role.