Fast-Tracking a Sales Leadership Hire in Switzerland

Key takeaways

• Highly qualified shortlist for a Head of Sales role delivered within two days
• Two thirds of shortlisted candidates progressed to interview
• Entire hiring process, from initial client contact to accepted offer, completed in 1.5 weeks
• 33% reduction in notice period negotiated so the candidate could start their new role faster

The challenge

Hiring senior sales leaders is a high-stakes process. The ability to bring in the right leadership quickly can define whether a company meets its revenue targets or falls short. 

A fast-growing company in Switzerland needed to hire a Head of Sales to develop its commercial strategy and ensure ambitious revenue targets were met. However, since senior hiring can be notoriously slow, with top candidates often tied into long notice periods and receiving multiple job offers, they approached EPM Scientific to help them find a high-impact hire, faster. 

The solution

Drawing on our in-depth market knowledge and access to top life sciences sales talent in Switzerland, we executed a rapid, targeted search that delivered results:

• Proactive candidate sourcing: Within 48 hours, we presented a highly targeted shortlist of six qualified candidates, all carefully selected based on their industry expertise, leadership capability, and ability to drive commercial success.
• Streamlined interview process: The client quickly moved four candidates to first-round interviews, with one progressing to the final stage and receiving an offer the very next day.
• Expert negotiation: The selected candidate faced a three-month notice period, which would have delayed their start date. We successfully negotiated an early exit, reducing their notice period by one month so they could start their new role ahead of schedule.

The result

Through a highly efficient and targeted hiring process, our client secured an exceptional Head of Sales in just 1.5 weeks from job briefing to offer, ensuring minimal disruption to business operations and allowing the company to execute its commercial strategy without delay. By proactively supporting the candidate’s transition, we also accelerated their start date, ensuring the new leader could begin driving results sooner than anticipated. 

The new Head of Sales made an immediate impact, successfully driving revenue growth and refining the company’s commercial strategy. Within the first three months they exceeded their initial performance targets and contributed significantly to the company’s long-term expansion plans in Switzerland.

Summary

By combining speed, precision, and expert negotiation, along with our deep understanding of the life sciences hiring landscape and client needs, we helped this firm secure a high-impact sales leader in record time. Our team not only met but exceeded their expectations, demonstrating the value of a strategic, well-connected talent partner.