Objective

VIP Traveler retained us to source a CEO to lead their growing business. This pivotal position is at the forefront of the startup's growth, reporting directly to the co-founders.

Approach

We focused our search on candidates with strong P&L leadership experience, particularly those with a background in scaling startups. Given the co-founders’ locations in the US and Australia, we prioritized finding someone with exceptional stakeholder management skills to effectively navigate cross-border collaboration.

In addition to traditional search methods, we leveraged Skift’s ecosystem to identify unconventional candidates who could bring fresh perspectives to the role.

Outcome

One of the advantages of working with startups is their ability to move quickly. Direct communication with decision-makers enabled a streamlined process. After delivering a shortlist, interviews were arranged swiftly. The shortlisted candidates were introduced to all three co-founders of VIP Traveler, which was a critical stage for assessing cultural fit and ensuring collaborative potential with the founding team. Each founder brought a unique perspective, focusing on strategic vision, operational execution, and cultural alignment.

The top candidate underwent a thorough final evaluation, including flying to both New York and Melbourne to meet the founders face-to-face. After these meetings, an offer was extended and accepted.