An ICG client in the food and nutrition industry is seeking an experienced executive coach to work with its two senior executives as they lead the organisation through its next phase of international growth.
The business has developed its intellectual property and a proven model in its home market, and is now working to find product-market fit in Europe. Its two senior executives are based in different regions (New Zealand and Europe), and the organisation is focused on operating more effectively and efficiently as a global business.
The client’s hypothesis is that better integration of its regions and their different market cultures – and, by extension, of the leaders of those regions – will drive stronger growth in France, Belgium and Switzerland.
This role is ideal for a senior coach who has personally lived the challenge of taking a business into France and wider European markets, and who can combine executive partnership coaching with credible, practical market insight.
You will coach the two senior executives as a leadership partnership, strengthening how they work together across regions, time zones and cultures. You will also help them build a better basis for deciding what to localise for European markets and what to retain from the home-market model – even where that differs from the traditional approach in a given market.
KEY FOCUS AREAS
- Strengthening the senior executive partnership – alignment, shared decision-making, roles and accountabilities, and effective collaboration across two regions.
- Integrating the regions and their market cultures, so that regional leadership and teams operate as one global organisation rather than parallel businesses.
- Building a robust, shared approach to “localise vs. retain” decisions as the business pursues product-market fit in France, Belgium and Switzerland.
- Deepening the executives’ understanding of European markets, customers and ways of working.
- Jointly developing the organisation’s own “standard” – culture, leadership and ways of working that hold across all markets.
KEY DELIVERABLE
A stronger, more effective senior executive partnership and a clearer, shared basis for international market decisions. Success will be reflected in a steeper growth curve in the European markets, a better understanding of those markets and how to operate in them, and a shared, articulated organisational standard for culture, leadership and ways of working.
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
Direct, hands-on experience of expanding a business into France and/or other EU markets is the most important requirement for this engagement. The client is looking for someone who has been accountable for (or worked closely alongside leaders accountable for) European market entry and growth – not solely an adviser or generalist coach.
This should be combined with a strong track record of coaching senior executives, ideally including leadership pairs, co-leaders or founder teams.
Essential:
- Direct experience leading or driving business expansion into France and/or the EU, ideally for a company taking home-market IP or products into Europe
- Deep understanding of French and European business culture, commercial practices and ways of working
- Proven executive coaching experience at senior executive level, including coaching leadership partnerships or senior teams
- Experience leading or coaching across multiple regions, time zones and cultures
Preferred:
- Food, nutrition, consumer goods or healthcare industry experience
- Experience in the Belgian and/or Swiss markets
- French language capability
- Understanding of businesses expanding from Australia / New Zealand into Europe
- Recognised coaching accreditation (e.g. ICF or equivalent)
CONSULTANT PROFILE
We are looking for a senior practitioner – for example, a former executive or general manager who has built or grown a business in France or the EU, and who now works as an executive coach or adviser.
You will be comfortable working with two experienced senior executives together and individually, able to challenge constructively, and able to bring both market credibility and coaching discipline to the relationship.
Logistics
Start Date: As agreed.
Duration: 3-6 months, as agreed.
Location: New Zealand and Europe – delivery can be fully remote
Delivery: Via video conferencing (e.g. Zoom / Microsoft Teams), with sessions scheduled across New Zealand and European time zones
Working Arrangements: Coaching engagement – joint partnership sessions with both executives, plus individual sessions as required, cadence to be agreed.
Rate: To be agreed with the client.
Close Date: No later than Thursday 12, 5pm [NZDT]
APPLICATION PROCESS
Interested consultants should submit:
- CV highlighting European market expansion and executive coaching experience
- Brief cover note addressing:
o Specific, direct experience of expanding a business into France and/or the EU
o Examples of coaching senior leadership partnerships or executive teams
o Availability and day rate expectations
This is an excellent opportunity to work with two senior executives of a growing food business at a pivotal point in its international expansion, applying your European market experience and coaching expertise to help shape how the organisation leads and grows across regions.
– All Accredited Professionals must be Members of ICG, if not already.
– Resumes must be submitted by close of business on the application closing date listed above. All resumes will be reviewed, and the top three candidates will be shortlisted for the client.
– The client will then conduct interviews. Please note that the net rate quoted applies to ICG Affiliate rates, which are available to ICG Members only.
– Any previously agreed and documented rates for candidates introduced to ICG through approved third parties will continue to be honoured.