Manager, CEO Office
SmartNews, the third unicorn in Japan valued at over $1 billion USD, is known for its news aggregation app which curates and distributes news articles from various credible sources. The CEO Office at SmartNews is an organization that oversees and promote strategic company-wide projects accelerating global management and business growth.
The Challenge.
SmartNews partnered with us to lead a search for a pivotal role within their CEO Office, a position responsible for driving global strategic initiatives directly under the Chief Executive Officer. Operating in a deeply data-driven environment, SmartNews sought a seasoned professional with a strong foundation in data science and hands-on expertise in MySQL, Python, and Tableau. The challenge of the search was identifying someone who could bridge between the strategic and highly technical data intensive aspects of the role.
The Approach.
We focused our search on top talent from CEO Offices at leading tech platforms, strategy consulting firms, and adjacent industries. As SmartNews is still growing its brand recognition, we found that many candidates were only loosely familiar with the app. To truly engage them, we needed to dive deeper by clearly articulating what SmartNews stands for, its unique value as an employer, and the critical role this position plays in shaping the company’s future.
The Outcome.
We identified an outstanding candidate with the ideal blend of strategic insight and expertise in data science. With a well-rounded, in-demand skill set, the candidate was highly sought after and considering multiple offers. Rather than apply pressure, we focused on providing a clear, thoughtful perspective on the opportunity and their projected long-term career path. Ultimately, the candidate chose SmartNews and will be joining the team in 2025.