Industry
Industrials
Location
Germany & China
Number of Employees
200 - 500 employees
CLIENT OVERVIEW
The client is a global provider of industrial and commercial heating, dehumidification, and air-treatment equipment, with a strong heritage in engineering and manufacturing excellence. Founded in Italy in the early 1980s, the company has grown into an international player serving industrial and commercial customers across multiple regions.
To support its European market expansion, the company established its European operations out of Germany, while maintaining manufacturing capabilities in China. With a workforce of just over 200 employees globally, the organization combines entrepreneurial agility with deep technical expertise in industrial heating and HVAC solutions.
CHALLENGE
As part of its European growth strategy, the company faced a critical first step: hiring its first-ever employee in Europe. This role went far beyond a traditional leadership position. The new hire needed to act as a Sales and Marketing Director, while also laying the foundation for the company’s long-term presence in the region.
The scope of responsibility included launching operations in Germany, establishing a local office and warehouses, and building both the sales and engineering teams from the ground up. In addition to leadership and commercial expertise, the role required deep market understanding of industrial heating and air-treatment solutions, familiarity with European customer expectations, and the ability to operate independently in a greenfield setup.
With no existing local structure in place, selecting the right leader was business-critical. A wrong hire would significantly delay market entry and expansion.
SOLUTION
Avomind partnered closely with the client to define the strategic scope of the role and clarify what success would look like in the first 6 to 12 months. Beyond recruitment, Avomind conducted an in-depth market and competitor analysis, providing insights into the competitive landscape, pricing dynamics, and positioning within the European industrial heating and HVAC market.
Based on these insights, Avomind designed a targeted executive search focused on senior candidates who combined strong commercial leadership with operational execution experience. Particular emphasis was placed on identifying individuals who had previously built teams and operations from scratch and who were comfortable working in highly autonomous environments.
Avomind managed the full process end-to-end, from market mapping and candidate assessment to final selection, ensuring close alignment with the client’s expansion strategy and long-term goals.
OUTCOME
Within six months of joining, the newly hired Sales and Marketing Director successfully established the company’s European foundation. This included setting up local warehouses, launching office operations in Germany, and building fully functioning sales and engineering teams.
The new structure enabled the company to serve European customers locally, accelerate sales activities, and strengthen technical support capabilities across the region. By combining strategic market insights with precise leadership hiring, Avomind helped the client move from zero local presence to a fully operational European organization in a short timeframe.
This case demonstrates Avomind’s ability to support complex international expansions by delivering not just talent, but the strategic foundations needed for sustainable growth.