Waste ManagementIndustrial ServicesGroup General Manager
First Group GM for an Australian Family-Owned Waste Services Group
A family-owned service group created its first Group General Manager role to link the chief executive with a number of companies. The brief called for a sense of trade, strong control, and room for wider group leadership.
The Client
This Australian group diversified from waste services into a mix of related industrial businesses. Its work now includes waste systems, equipment, repair, advice, and associated field support forms. Many of the senior staff have been with the group for years, and have deep know-how and close working relationships. As the group’s companies grew, the CEO needed someone to integrate their plans and results. The new role would deliver that missing layer without damaging the direct style of this family firm. It also gave unit heads a direct line of contact to the chief executive.
The Challenge
This was a new seat and the first hire would set the tone for how the role worked in practice. The Group General Manager had to introduce common measures and increase the focus on profit in each unit. The task also entailed uniting different teams behind one plan, while (at the same time) keeping their own skills and strengths. The brief included a route to future group leadership, raising the bar for drive. The right person needed senior skill right away and the patience to win trust from long-serving managers. Finding that mix in private meant looking past waste and testing values as well as results.
The Solution
Keller Executive Search interviewed leaders in industrial services and other multi-business companies. The review considered sales, costs, day-to-day control, and the capacity to lead veteran unit heads. The chief executive wanted someone who was tough but fair, and could lead change without being too pushy. Short-listed candidates underwent face-to-face interviews and were tested on their working style, motivations, and likely leadership habits. The final negotiations involved members of the owning family because long-term fit was really important. This gave both parties a clear understanding of the role, the culture, and the way forward.
The Results
The selected leader had senior trade and operational experience in large, complex industrial organizations. After a fair discussion, which balanced the market with the group’s own structure, pay was agreed upon. Final starting plans and handovers were established after all set checks were completed. The new Group General Manager arrived with a clear brief to align results and support sustainable business growth. Keller Executive Search sourced a leader who meets the needs of the group today, as well as future succession needs.
The Impact
A few weeks after joining the company, the new Group General Manager was involved in major strategic projects. This was a good early sign that the placement had gone well and that they were already working at the level the group had envisioned. For a business that has grown over the course of more than four decades without it, having this structure in place, with an official GM layer and built-in succession planning, is a big development. It has become an important foundation the group due to their scale and operational reach.
Inquiry Sent
Latest Insights
