Head of Compliance – Success Story.

The client required a Head of Compliance based in Ukraine — a key leadership hire to rebuild and elevate the compliance function, create a new structure, and serve as the main architect of the company’s ethics, transparency, and internal control culture.

The goal was to secure a leader capable of:

• Building a new Compliance Department from scratch
• Introducing modern compliance processes aligned with international standards
• Ensuring multi-level coordination with legal, HR, finance, operations, and C-suite
• Maintaining strict integrity, process discipline, and risk mitigation across a large retail ecosystem

The search required a rare hybrid profile — a professional equally strong in:

• Legal and regulatory expertise
• Risk management
• Internal investigations
• Policy design
• Stakeholder communication
• Change management in a rapidly scaling retail environment
• Ethical leadership

The challenge was amplified by:

1. Compliance transformation stage: The candidate needed both strategic vision and operational capacity.
2. Dual reporting: Ability to balance expectations of the CEO and Head of Legal.
3. Retail scale complexity: High employee count, diverse processes, and rapid expansion.
4. Cultural fit: Transparent communication style and readiness for high ownership in a fast-paced environment.

Despite these complexities, the final result was achieved efficiently and with strong candidate quality.

Talent Acquisition Path

150+ profiles mapped → ~25 pre-qualified → 13 shortlisted → 4 passed the first round → 1 passed the final interview with the CEO → 1 hired

1) Market Mapping & Sourcing

A Ukraine-wide scan of compliance leadership talent across retail, FMCG, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing.
More than 150 candidates were identified and screened based on compliance expertise, leadership experience, and exposure to large, regulated environments.

2) Precision Screening

Candidates were evaluated on:

• Regulatory knowledge
• Investigation expertise
• Experience building or restructuring compliance systems
• Hands-on approach and readiness for high ownership
  ~30 candidates passed preliminary assessment and 13 were shortlisted.

3) Speed to Slate

Within the first week of the search, structured interviews were conducted, and the strongest profiles were advanced.
Four candidates successfully passed the first round and were presented with capability maps and characteristics within 7 working days since the start.

4) Final Stage Assessment

Top candidates were invited to the final interview with the CEO, evaluating leadership, ownership mindset, and long-term vision for compliance transformation.
One standout candidate demonstrated exceptional integrity, strategic clarity,  a variety of desireable soft skills, and readiness to build the Compliance Department from the ground up.

5) Offer Design & Closure

The offer was structured with growth potential and clear details, aligning expectations between the candidate and the executive team.
One candidate accepted — and was hired as the new Head of Compliance.

Outcome

We successfully closed a critical leadership role for a rapidly expanding international retailer — securing a Compliance Head capable of building a transparent, ethical, and scalable compliance framework for a company operating at high speed and large scale. The desired candidate was presented withing just 7 days of an active Executive search!

The new leader brings a unique combination of legal precision, systemic thinking, risk foresight, and cultural alignment — essential qualities for guiding the company through its compliance transformation phase.

If you’re looking to strengthen your leadership team or expand into new markets, we’re here to help.
Let’s connect and find the right talent for your next growth milestone!