A prominent merchant bank, faced the unique challenge of creating and filling a first-of-its-kind executive role that would serve as a blueprint for future expansion across other geographies. The position, titled VP of Regional Build, was designed as a right-hand role to the Managing Director but required a complex blend of skills that extended far beyond traditional Chief of Staff responsibilities.

The role demanded a rare and sophisticated profile combining deep financial services expertise with operational excellence. Unlike conventional executive support positions, this role was heavily focused on business development activities, including growing the company's mountain west practice area, working directly with clients to sell products, and driving business development initiatives. The successful candidate needed to understand the intricacies of merchant banking while possessing the operational acumen to support a high-performing Managing Director.

Finding candidates with the requisite merchant banking and financial services background proved exceptionally difficult. The company required someone who not only understood their unique position in the financial services ecosystem but also had hands-on experience in investment banking, wealth management, or related fields. This specialized knowledge base had to be combined with Chief of Staff-adjacent skills—a combination that existed in very few professionals in the market.

The stakes were particularly high as this role was intended to serve as a template for similar positions across the company's other geographic markets. The organization needed to get the role definition and candidate selection exactly right, as the success or failure of this initial placement would influence the scalability of their regional expansion strategy. There was significant room for the role to be defined and evolved, but the foundational hire had to demonstrate both immediate impact and long-term potential.

Vannin Chief of Staff developed a sophisticated search strategy that combined deep financial services market knowledge with their expertise in executive support roles, creating a targeted approach to identify candidates with this rare skill combination.

Key steps included:

• We identified professionals from investment banking, wealth management, venture capital, and private equity backgrounds who possessed the foundational financial services knowledge the company required.

• This multi-layered approach ensured candidates could navigate both the technical aspects of merchant banking and the executive support responsibilities.

• Understanding the critical importance of finding the right long-term fit, Vannin collaborated with the company to design an extensive eight-step interview process. This thorough evaluation framework was specifically crafted to assess both technical competencies and cultural alignment, ensuring the selected candidate would thrive in the company's unique environment and serve as a successful template for future hires.

• Vannin Chief of Staff presented five carefully shortlisted candidates who met the stringent criteria, demonstrating the effectiveness of their targeted approach to this specialized market segment.

• Over the subsequent ten weeks, Vannin Chief of Staff managed the comprehensive interview process, coordinating the eight-step evaluation while maintaining candidate engagement and interest. This extended timeline required sophisticated candidate experience management to ensure top prospects remained committed throughout the thorough vetting process.

• Throughout the three-month search, Vannin Chief of Staff maintained close collaboration with the company's leadership team, providing guidance and insights at each interview stage. This partnership approach ensured alignment on candidate evaluation and helped refine the role requirements based on market feedback and candidate interactions.

Vannin Chief of Staff successfully identified and placed a highly qualified candidate who embodied the rare combination of skills the company required, establishing a strong foundation for their regional expansion strategy.

The search culminated in the placement of a venture capital operator based in Denver who possessed the perfect blend of financial services expertise and operational capabilities. This candidate's VC background provided the necessary financial acumen while their operational experience equipped them to excel in the executive support aspects of the role.

The selected candidate demonstrated deep alignment with the company's ethos and culture, indicating successful cultural fit assessment throughout the comprehensive interview process. Their commitment to both the organization and the role suggests strong potential for long-term success and retention.

Blueprint Creation for Future Expansion: By successfully defining and filling this inaugural role, the company now has a proven template for similar positions across other geographic markets. The thorough process and successful outcome provide a roadmap for scaling their regional expansion strategy with confidence.

Efficient Timeline Management: Despite the extensive eight-step interview process, the entire search was completed within three months—a testament to Vannin Chief of Staff's project management capabilities and candidate engagement strategies. The initial shortlist delivery within two weeks demonstrated the efficiency of their targeted search approach.

Key outcomes included:

• Successful placement of a candidate with the rare combination of financial services and operational expertise

• Strong cultural and strategic alignment with the company's long-term vision

• Creation of a replicable role template for geographic expansion

• Effective management of complex, extended interview process

• Demonstration of Vannin's ability to identify highly specialized talent in niche markets

Ultimately, the company gained not only an exceptional VP of Regional Build but also a proven framework for expanding their leadership capabilities across multiple markets, positioning them for sustained growth and success.