Our relationship
A real estate investment firm headquartered in the southeast sought to implement ESG initiatives to benefit and build stronger relationships with investors, tenants, and the communities it serves.
The company turned to Robert Half’s executive search consultants to help identify, assess, and hire an experienced ESG executive who possessed the desired qualifications and knowledge in this relatively new field.
Opportunity
For 40+ years the firm has been an active partner with its surrounding communities and strives to create welcoming environments for the diverse individuals who work in and visit its properties.
The company wanted to formalize its commitment to social responsibility and needed a dedicated director to; execute its ESG strategy; gather, analyze, and report on various ESG metrics and targets, and promote its ESG efforts to the public.
Strategic approach
Robert Half’s specialized executive recruiting consultants met with the client’s management team to understand their needs and developed a position profile outlining their requirements. The team conducted a nationwide search for a director-level ESG executive with the desired experience, skillsets, and cultural attitude.
Solutions
During the search process, it became apparent that the candidates best suited to the client’s needs were overqualified for a director-level position. Our executive search team recommended elevating the role to Vice President to attract the interest of a top local candidate.
Results
Since joining the company, the new ESG executive has implemented sustainability initiatives across many properties that have substantially lowered the organization’s carbon footprint and generated cost savings for its tenants.
More and more, companies are implementing ESG strategies as a way to demonstrate their commitment to social responsibility. However, organizations are challenged to find ESG leaders in this relatively new field who have a clear understanding of the programs and their regulatory and reporting requirements.
Using Robert Half’s executive search expertise, the company was able to hire a leader with specialized functional skills and technical knowledge who fit the company’s culture. The company’s flexibility also played a part in finding an executive with the level of experience to successfully lead their ESG efforts.
