Engineering a Smarter Future: Strategic Board Search Fuels Innovation and Growth

Challenge

A respected engineering and infrastructure services firm engaged TRANSEARCH USA and the team led by Chris Swan, Global Practice Leader, to assist in appointing a new Board Member. The organization, navigating a rapidly evolving market, needed leadership that could strengthen its strategic posture in the Transportation or Power sectors—two of its most critical and expanding business areas.

Additionally, the firm was seeking a board-level leader with a forward-thinking perspective on emerging technologies, someone who could support the organization’s long-term growth and transformation initiatives. The search required careful alignment with the company’s culture, long-term vision, and evolving technical landscape.

The Search Partner

TRANSEARCH was formally retained in mid-2021 to deliver on this nuanced mandate. Leveraging its deep expertise in board-level appointments and its strategic approach to leadership acquisition, TRANSEARCH began by mapping out a wide universe of potential candidates who could bring not only the relevant sector experience but also insights into innovation and future-oriented technologies.

Throughout the process, TRANSEARCH maintained close collaboration with the client, continuously refining the search criteria based on market dynamics and the client’s evolving priorities.

Solution

Over the course of the engagement, TRANSEARCH identified 127 potential candidates, and directly contacted 55. Of the contacts made, 26 were formally rejected, either due to misalignment or lack of availability, and actively pursued 14.

While the process extended beyond the typical timeline—culminating in a 110-day search—the broader reach ultimately proved fruitful. The selected candidate emerged from an unexpected source—Google—and was not part of the original target list, showcasing the importance of adaptive search strategies.

He brought with him a strong blend of strategic insight, leadership experience, and familiarity with technology-driven transformations, making him an ideal fit for the evolving board.

Results

TRANSEARCH successfully placed the candidate on the company’s Board in the Spring of 2022. His appointment marked a pivotal moment in the firm’s governance evolution, adding both sector expertise and a technology-forward mindset to the leadership team.

Since his appointment, the Board has gained a valuable contributor to strategic discussions—particularly around market expansion, innovation, and modernization of service offerings in both the Transportation and Power sectors.