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| IIC Partners completes Tweddle Group quest | | 
DETROIT — After more than a year of searching for a European operations manager, Tweddle Group of Michigan turned to Hohauser & Associates and IIC Partners, who found their person in 10 weeks.
“We were able to realize a positive and speedy result and we’re very happy with the whole process,” says Scott Thomasson, executive vice president of business development at Tweddle Group’s Clinton Township head office. “We would definitely work with Hohauser and IIC Partners again to help us in future recruiting efforts.”
No matter where your car was built or what language you speak — chances are good that Tweddle produced the owner’s information provided with your new vehicle. For more than 50 years, Tweddle has supported leading automakers in Europe, North America and Asia in the development, management and delivery of owner, service and training information. Tweddle provides global support to their customers’ initiatives through their operations in Detroit, Michigan, Belgium and China.
Thomasson says Tweddle tried searching on their own but rapidly realized they needed professional help to find the best person to direct operations on another continent. They first retained one of the world’s largest integrated search firms, but after nine months and five candidates, Thomasson says, they were no closer to filling a crucial leadership role.
“The candidates presented to us were not remotely qualified and their experience levels were not in line with our position description.”
It was at this point Thomasson caught a break, learning from one of his colleagues that Tweddle had a record of success working with Todd Hohauser on senior assignments in the US. Hohauser & Associates had placed their director of manufacturing in 2006 and their director of quality in 2007.
“Scott called me and asked me if Hohauser was able to do international search work which, of course, we can do through our global partnership,” Todd Hohauser recalls. “I told him IIC Partners was the world’s eighth largest search organization — but that we’re an association of independently owned firms, so you get local expertise in every market along with the global reach of 57 offices in 40 countries.”
Hohauser kept a liaison role in the search process, while putting their client in touch with the IIC Partners member firm in Brussels, Hoffman and Associates.
Hoffman partner Ineke Arts led the search in Europe.
“Todd provided excellent communications about the needs and expectations of the client and Scott Thomasson of Tweddle was very transparent about their previous experiences with another headhunter,” Arts says. “The managing director of Tweddle Group Europe located in Belgium was very helpful and supportive and our firm had solid expertise in the relevant areas. All the parties maintained regular contact throughout the process to ensure that the search remained on track. And, when candidates were presented, we maintained close communications with the candidates and the client to bring about the best result.
“Of course, hard work also helped to create a bit of luck that helped to complete the process,” Arts says.
Thomasson says he was somewhat startled by the quick turnaround.
“We placed the assignment with them in the middle of summer, when it’s really hard to connect with people. But they did a good search — with weekly progress reports — and we had a director of operations in place on Sept. 17.”
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