VP HR Strategy & Operations

SAVANNAH CASE STUDY

VP HR Strategy & Operations

Coca-Cola Enterprise Partners

02 I Savannah Case Study • Coca-Cola European Partners

ChallengeCoca-Cola European Partners (CCEP) is a multinational bottling publicly traded company dedicated to the marketing, production, and distribution of Coca-Cola products. CCEP was created in 2016 as a result of the merger of three major bottling companies and today has over 50 bottling plants and approximately 27,000 associates. CCEP serves a consumer population of over 300 million in 13 countries.

Recently the HR function has begun a major transformation programme, and has an ambitious strategy to both grow from within, and externally attract top talent to lead this change agenda. Lisa and Katie partnered closely with CCEP to search for a progressive minded leader who would support the evolution of HR to the leading edge of functional excellence. The role of Vice President HR Strategy & Operations was created with the responsibility for the overall strategy of the function, driving operational excellence and process improvement initiatives. Additionally, this role is charged with overseeing and developing approximately 200 team members organised in high performance groups that support several HR disciplines including: Strategy & Planning, HRIS, HR Metrics & Reporting, Employment Practices, Employee Engagement, HR Shared Services Centers, Payroll, HR Operational Excellence and other shared services.

SolutionA business critical and highly infl uential role, it was crucial to fi nd a candidate who would bring strong and innovative thinking, and be the right cultural fi t to ensure immediate impact. Both strategic thinking and operational excellence were key criteria. CCEP had very ambitious time targets and a global search had to be conducted extremely quickly and effi ciently to ensure success. Lisa and Katie’s knowledge of the market really stood out. They offered deep insight to other organisations and knew exactly where to look and who to ask to build a targeted and impressive candidate universe.

Throughout the process they stayed close to CCEP, were available at all hours, and provided critical analysis which really supported the fi nal defi nition of the ideal candidate. Not afraid to challenge, they tested CCEP hard on what ‘good’ looked like and demonstrated that they really knew their candidates exceptionally well. The search was creative and the timescales met impressive. What else really stood out was the referencing and offer management process which ensured we secured the right person.

ImpactThe placed candidate brought leading edge thinking and a real passion for innovation. Extremely well networked and forward looking, their subject matter expertise was combined with a very strong personal style and infl uencing skills. Not an easy combination to fi nd!

03 I Savannah Case Study • Coca-Cola European Partners

Client PerspectiveMaria Kokkinou I VP, Talent Aquisition, Management & Development, CCEP

“Lisa and Katie worked with us on a very challenging and critical senior HR leadership role. They were partners and advisors from the very early stages of refining the brief through to a highly successful conclusion. Our role was very specific and we knew there would not be many in the market with this skillset so we needed a global approach. The added complexity of the search was the accelerated pace we asked them to work at, which they successfully did without compromising on quality. What really stood out was the deep market knowledge and candidate insight they have. They had excellent understanding of each candidate and what they could bring to our business and culture. We would not hesitate to work with them again.

About Savannah

Savannah combines the quality, agility and personal attention of a boutique search and interim firm, with the resources and global capability of a larger firm.

It’s the reason why more than 600 of the world's leading brands have chosen to use us, and why 85% of our revenue is from repeat business.

If you’d like to find out more, please visit Savannah at www.savannah-group.com for articles, research and insights.

What really stood out was the

deep market knowledge and

candidate insight they have.

04 I Savannah Case Study • Coca-Cola European Partners

ProfilesLisa Gerhardt I Partner, Global Human

Resources Practice

Lisa is a Partner at Savannah. Lisa has nearly 20 years executive search experience and leads the global HR practice.

This breadth of knowledge enables Lisa to assist clients with complex global talent and resourcing challenges across all functions. With her depth of expertise in international HR appointments she brings significant added value to organisations as they plan their overall talent and resourcing strategies.

Lisa has extensive experience of working with global multi-national organisations – many of which are household names and supporting them in their critical group-level and regional search requirements.

Her international networks are exceptional and she is recognized for quality of delivery and candidate care.

Prior to joining the firm Lisa worked for Heidrick & Struggles in London, recruiting across the HR function and the consumer healthcare sector.

Her earlier career was in FMCG marketing at Kimberly Clark in South Africa and McCann Erickson in the world of advertising, as an account executive specialising in premier brands such as Coca-Cola.

Katie Chevis I Principal, Global Human

Resources Practice

Katie Chevis is a Principal and member of the Global Human Resources Practice. She focuses on executive search.

With a decade of experience in HR, Katie is well networked across the community. She has deep subject matter expertise across the function having worked on multiple Group HR Director and Business Partner roles, as well as with each of the specialist centres of expertise, across multiple industries. Alongside her specific placements, Katie has advised countless professionals on their own personal development and career planning.

She has a strong reputation for both relationship building and project delivery.

Prior to joining the firm Katie worked in the global HR centre of expertise at a top-tier executive search firm. Her early career was in Human Capital consulting at Ernst & Young.

In 2015 she was invited to be a judge in national HR Magazine’s Most Influential Awards.

Katie has a BA in Philosophy and Psychology from the University of Warwick and qualified with the Association of Tax Technicians.