Placement Report
Result Placement
Days to Present Placed Candidate 26
Days to Placement 36
Total Candidates Presented 4
Total Candidates Interviewed by Client 3
Total Prospects DDI Spoke With 9
Lead Consultant

Connor McKercher

Vice President & Practice Leader: Flexible Packaging, Corrugated, Labels, Folding Cartons, Paper & Industrial Automation

Company Description

A leading flexible packaging producer with 10+ sites and presence from coast to coast.

Job Title

Regional Director of Operations

How long was client searching prior to our involvement?

Our client wasn’t actively looking. It was an opportunistic hire.

Did client have internal recruiting resources?

Yes, the clients had posted job advertisements as well as internal search processes.

Why was this a real problem for the client?

Our client was experiencing significant operational challenges after rapidly doubling the size of its business through growth and expansion. What had once been a relatively straightforward manufacturing operation had evolved into a much more complex network of facilities, requiring greater coordination, consistency, and strategic oversight. Leadership recognized the need for an experienced industry professional who could oversee multiple plants, standardize processes, improve performance, and ensure operations were aligned with the company’s growth objectives.

The search proved difficult due to the geographic location of the facilities and the limited pool of qualified local talent. The ideal candidate needed a unique combination of industry expertise, multi-site leadership experience, operational excellence skills, and the ability to drive results across diverse teams and locations. Finding an individual with both the technical knowledge and leadership capability to successfully manage multiple plants was critical to helping the organization overcome its growing pains and position itself for continued long-term success.

How did this opportunity help the candidate?

We identified a highly qualified candidate located just over an hour from the client’s facility, making him an excellent geographic fit for the role. He brought seven years of experience with a direct competitor, where he had developed a deep understanding of the industry, manufacturing operations, and the challenges associated with managing large-scale production environments. Importantly, his departure from that organization was entirely voluntary and occurred because he wanted to create opportunities for the next generation of leaders to advance within the company.

In addition to his industry-specific knowledge, the candidate possessed extensive manufacturing leadership experience, including operational management, workforce development, process improvement, and performance optimization. His background aligned closely with every key requirement identified by the client, making him an exceptionally strong match from both a technical and cultural perspective.

Recognizing the value he could bring to the organization, the client extended a compelling offer that provided increased responsibility, professional growth opportunities, and long-term stability. The strength of the opportunity ultimately made the candidate’s decision straightforward, allowing him to remain in an industry where he had built a successful career rather than pursuing opportunities outside of manufacturing. The result was a mutually beneficial outcome, with the client securing a proven industry leader and the candidate advancing into an attractive next step in his career.