Finding Leadership Talent for the World Cocoa Foundation
Millar Cameron assisted the World Cocoa Foundation in sourcing passionate and knowledgeable senior leaders to drive positive change in the cocoa sector.
The Role
Location:
Washington D.C., USA
Accra, Ghana
Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
Sector:
Food & Agriculture
Services:
Executive Search
ABOUT
The World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) is committed to making the global cocoa sector more sustainable and addressing the mounting challenges faced by cocoa producers. They aim to improve farmers’ livelihoods and promote sustainable, resilient cocoa farming. WCF partners with governments, businesses, and communities to create programmes that increase productivity, combat child labour, and ensure fair working conditions around the world.
THE CHALLENGE
For WCF to continue its critical work in the global cocoa sector, they needed to source exceptional talent for several key positions.
The cocoa production sector grapples with significant environmental and economic complexity, particularly in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire. These regions, responsible for two-thirds of the world's cocoa supply, face issues such as decreased productivity, low incomes, and environmental challenges
WCF required senior leaders who understood these complexities, were passionate about the sector, and had experience in public-private partnerships.
Despite their own extensive network, WCF's leadership team realised that conducting a thorough global search required specialised expertise. They needed a recruitment partner with deep knowledge of the cocoa and soft commodities sectors, as well as an understanding of the African market.
While WCF had previously used third-party recruitment support with some success, they knew that to make effective and impactful hires they had to collaborate with a firm equally committed to the global food sector. Failure to secure the right talent would have severely impacted their ability to achieve strategic objectives and implement effective programs.
THE SOLUTION
WCF sought a recruitment partner who understood the cocoa and food sectors, had experience in hiring for similar roles, and possessed a global network to conduct a comprehensive search.
Millar Cameron's extensive experience and passion for the global food sector made them the ideal choice for WCF. The positive experience one of WCF’s executive leadership team members had with Millar Cameron as a past candidate led them to consider us for Executive Search support.
We are happy to find professionals who understand the kind of work we are doing. Millar Cameron’s professionalism was evident in managing the candidates through the process.
OUR APPROACH
Millar Cameron was tasked with the search and selection for several critical senior roles:
Country Director – Ghana
Director of Environment
Director of Farmer Income
Programme Manager (Cocoa and Forests Initiative)
The process included:
1. Candidate identification
Extensive research and networking to identify potential candidates.
2. Candidate assessment
A three-stage internal interview process to evaluate candidates.
3. Presenting candidates
Providing WCF with a longlist and shortlist of candidates, along with detailed reports and recommendations.
4. Interview and onboarding support
Assisting in the interview process, referencing, managing offers, and providing onboarding and post-placement support.
THE OUTCOME
The project and recruitment processes have been a resounding success, enabling WCF to recruit individuals who not only fit the roles but also shared their passion and understanding of the cocoa sector. The diligent research and thorough candidate assessments provided WCF with a comprehensive view of the available talent.
Two roles are still in progress, and both WCF and Millar Cameron are confident in their continued partnership, marking a significant step towards achieving WCF's strategic objectives and driving positive change in the global cocoa sector.
Food is a core sector for the Millar Cameron team, and having the opportunity to work with such a respected organisation like WCF has been a privilege.
GET IN TOUCH WITH MILLAR CAMERON
If you would like to find out more about our specific expertise, or talk to a member of our team about your next senior hire, please contact us. We look forward to speaking with you.
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