An e-fuel producer with projects across multiple regions needed a VP of Modular Execution to lead its modular construction strategy. The position was new, created to develop and implement the company's modular execution philosophy for e-fuel plant construction.
The Client
The client is building a global portfolio of e-fuel plants, with Asia as the target region due to its classification as a hub for supply chain operations and module manufacturing. The organization has a presence across four regions and more than 20 nationalities, and its construction program is based on modular fabrication partnerships with region-specific contractors.
Plant construction is delivered by third-party contractors operating out of module yards in Asia. The VP role was established to lead that network of contractors and drive consistent execution across all project geographies.
The Challenge
The role of VP for Modular Execution in Shanghai required someone who had extensive experience in the petrochemical industry and proven experience in modular fabrication. Further must-haves included 15+ years of petrochemical construction management experience, with a minimum of 5 years in a leadership role. Candidates also needed extensive experience dealing with modular construction contractors and a demonstrated understanding of cross-cultural business practices in Asia. Fluency in English was required, and proficiency in Chinese or other Asian languages was strongly preferred.
Beyond technical credentials, the candidate had to be results-oriented and able to hold contractors accountable to project milestones across the supply chain. The role’s new organizational context required flexibility, resilience, and the ability to work within an evolving remit.
The Solution
Keller Executive Search partnered with a sourcing specialist firm in China to target candidates with experience in petrochemical construction and modular execution. The search was for professionals with experience in technical project management as well as contractor-facing roles within the Asian construction markets.
Initial rounds of interviews were online and performed by the organization’s People and Culture team, with later rounds requiring in-person meetings that took place in Shanghai. The Chief Development Officer and Modularization Project Lead facilitated the in-person sessions, and the Chief Operating Officer ran one final round.
Two candidates were selected and assessed on their skills in contractor management and cross-cultural work. The successful candidate had a strong modular design background, as well as experience in technical and project management roles.
The Results
An offer on a one-year contract basis was made and accepted, through a third-party employer of record in China.
Keller Executive Search has appointed a VP of Modular Execution with direct modular construction experience and a track record of managing contractors in Asian markets. The company has acquired a leader who will be able to develop its modular delivery program and drive consistency across all project geographies.
The Impact
Before this search, there was no such thing as a VP of Modular Execution. This was a role that needed to be built from the ground up, managing a contractor network across Asian module yards without a playbook to follow. The hire was meant to address an intrinsic issue for a company delivering a worldwide e-fuel construction program through third-party contractors in multiple regions, namely a lack of consistency, and to give the company a single point of accountability for modular execution across all project geographies. The VP’s standard for modular execution today will partly determine how reliably the company can build its plants at scale.
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