AIMS International Appoints Global Automotive & Mobility Practice Leader
March 16, 2020 – Executive search consortium AIMS International has named Olivier Legrand as its new global automotive and mobility practice leader. After six years of driving the global automotive and mobility practice, Alexander Müller has decided to step down from his global role.
“I am proud of the successes we have had with the team over the last years, establishing AIMS International as a recognized partner for the industry, helping our customers to be ahead of the curve in a changing market,” said Mr. Müller. “I am also delighted to hand over to Olivier and am convinced of his capacity to carry on the good work with the team.”
Mr. Legrand has broad knowledge and thorough understanding of the automotive industry, which he acquired with more than 15 years of experience as a global OEM leader. He initially drove the EMEA and LATAM aftermarket brands and products; he later supported strategic acquisitions for EMEA business development and finally ran the entire EMEA aftermarket operation. Mr. Legrand has also run his own consulting business. He spent two years helping automotive companies reshape their strategies, business models and organizations as well as acquiring and integrating businesses before joining AIMS International as managing partner AIMS Belgium.
“The automotive industry is making its revolution striving for long term sustainability, adjusting to consumers’ changing needs, leveraging digitalization and artificial intelligence to improve services and processes – so in the end, businesses,” said Mr. Legrand. “More than ever, organizations will need to be agile, to develop talents and to attract new ones bringing in new competencies that will help to make this revolution complete and successful.”
“The AIMS International global automotive and mobility practice understands where the industry stands and where it is heading,” he said. “It is a great honor to take over from Alexander and to work with this group of talented professionals having an in-depth understanding of their local markets in order to offer our customers the best global support.”
With over 80 offices worldwide, AIMS International provides clients with customized, global executive search and talent management services in 50 countries. It has active global practice groups working in the automotive, financial and professional services, FMCG and luxury goods, industrial, IT and telecoms, and life sciences industries, as well as in talent management and board advisory services.
Glowing Global Organization
AIMS has experienced a wave of growth over the past year. The consortium recently appointed Bernardo Entschev as its new president. He took over from Pierangelo Favero who served in the role since 2015. Mr. Entschev is managing partner U.S. and previously served as international vice president and executive vice president for the Latin Americas and Americas regions. He is qualified as a medical surgeon in Brazil and worked as a craniofacial surgeon for 10 years before joining his father’s executive search company in Brazil in 2007. Since then he has become an integral part of AIMS International, growing the business, first in South America and more recently in North America.
Recruiter Rankings: Global 30
This year Hunt Scanlon Media reviewed an exhaustive list of global recruiting providers and culled it down to the top 30 global talent providers that now dominate the recruiting business worldwide.
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“I am honored by the great confidence shown by our general assembly in Marrakech, electing me as president of AIMS International,” said Mr. Entschev. “The executive search market is changing due to the development of tech platforms, connecting candidates and companies. To stay relevant in today’s market, an executive search organization needs to offer more than finding the right candidate.”
At the start of the year, AIMS International expanded with the addition of a new office in Estonia. The consortium’s business in Estonia will led and operated by AIMS International Finland. Senior consultant Ari Loppukaarre and managing partner Markku Krutsin lead the new location.
Recently, AIMS added Search Excellence as a member firm. This led to the formation of AIMS International Ireland, which is Ken McIntyre-Barn. Mr. McIntyre-Barn has been working in the executive search industry since 2010 and has expertise finding executives for organizations in the consumer goods, media and technology, pharmaceutical, connected entertainment, fuels, bio-energy and consulting industries.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
