Industry
International Trade and Development
Location
South Korea
Number of Employees
5,001 - 10,000 employees
CLIENT OVERVIEW
A South Korea–headquartered global leader in kimchi manufacturing, employing 5,001–10,000 people, with operations spanning multiple international markets in the International Trade & Development sector. As one of the world’s largest and most established kimchi producers, the company supplies retail, foodservice, and distribution partners globally and has built a strong reputation for quality, scale, and export capability.
As part of its long-term global growth strategy, the organization has been actively expanding beyond Asia into high-potential Western markets. Europe, and Germany in particular, was identified as a strategic priority due to its large consumer base, mature retail infrastructure, and growing demand for international and fermented food products.
CHALLENGE
To successfully enter the German and broader EU market, the client needed to establish a strong local presence capable of building operations from the ground up. Central to this effort was hiring a Country Manager in Germany who could lead market entry, drive commercial development, and act as the bridge between headquarters in South Korea and the new European business.
The role required a rare combination of capabilities:
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Deep understanding of the German and EU retail, distribution, and regulatory landscape
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Proven experience leading market entry and scaling operations in new geographies
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Ability to build distributor networks, partnerships, and local teams
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Strong commercial leadership combined with operational execution
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Cross-cultural competence to align regional execution with global strategy
Given the strategic importance of the role, the client required a highly targeted search to identify a leader who could deliver both immediate market entry and long-term growth.
SOLUTION
Avomind designed and executed a tailored international executive search focused on identifying leadership talent with proven success in market expansion and operational build-up. The engagement began with comprehensive market mapping across Germany’s food, FMCG, and international trade sectors to identify senior leaders with relevant market entry and scaling experience. Avomind prioritized candidates who combined strong commercial acumen with deep local market knowledge and international exposure.
Through a targeted headhunting approach, Avomind assessed candidates against key success factors including distributor and retail network experience, regulatory familiarity, operational leadership, and cross-cultural communication skills.
Avomind managed the full hiring lifecycle end-to-end, from talent identification and evaluation to offer negotiation and closing, while closely coordinating with stakeholders across South Korea and Europe to ensure alignment on leadership expectations, market strategy, and long-term growth objectives.
This structured and highly focused process resulted in the successful placement of a Germany-based Country Manager equipped to lead the client’s European market entry.
OUTCOME
The newly appointed Country Manager enabled the client to establish a strong operational and commercial foundation in Germany and the EU. With experienced local leadership in place, the company was able to accelerate its market entry strategy and execute effectively within a complex regulatory and retail environment.
Key outcomes included:
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Successful hire of a Germany-based Country Manager to lead EU expansion
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Establishment of local commercial infrastructure and go-to-market execution
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Development of distributor relationships and strategic partnerships across the region
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Faster market launch readiness and improved operational coordination between HQ and Europe
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A scalable leadership foundation supporting long-term growth across Germany and the broader EU
The project reinforced Avomind’s expertise in supporting industrial, manufacturing, and consumer brands expanding into Germany and Europe, particularly through strategic leadership hires that enable successful market entry and sustained international growth.