Hiring a Corrosion Engineer with Leadership Skills to Grow a New Acquisition
- Kimberly Wilson
- Jul 7
- 2 min read
Proven Results: New General Manager Placed to Integrate, Lead, and Expand a Strategic Business Unit
TL;DR – Niche Executive Search with Long-Term Impact
In this case study, a client in the energy services sector needed a midstream corrosion engineer with a highly specialized certification, leadership capability, and business development experience to lead a newly acquired business unit. TLR Search conducted a targeted, relationship-driven executive search that surfaced a uniquely qualified leader, even after internal efforts had exhausted known networks.
Challenge: Technical Leadership Role with a Rare Skill Mix, Including a Specific Corrosion Engineering Certificate
A client had just acquired a company and needed a new general manager to lead and grow the business. The ideal candidate would have:
A deep technical foundation in corrosion engineering
A specific, hard-to-find industry certification
Experience leading technical teams
Business development and client-facing skills
The ability to integrate into a new leadership structure and scale the acquired business
Internal leadership had already contacted their known networks, feeling they had exhausted available candidates. As one leader shared: “We know everyone, and no one’s available or interested.”
Without the right hire, the growth and integration of the acquisition risked stalling.
Solution: Retained Executive Search and High-Touch Candidate Engagement
TLR Search stepped in with a clean slate and a specialized search approach tailored to the energy and industrial sector.
We:
Mapped the corrosion engineering talent market to identify candidates with both technical expertise and leadership potential
Engaged passive candidates who hadn’t yet explored leadership roles outside of their technical path
Positioned the role as a rare opportunity to lead a business unit and drive long-term growth
Consulted with the client to expand expectations around transferable leadership traits
Within weeks, we surfaced strong candidates the internal team had not previously reached or considered.
Result: A Strategic Hire to Lead Growth and Integration
The finalist candidate was initially hesitant but intrigued by the leadership opportunity. Through ongoing conversations, TLR Search helped the candidate visualize how this role aligned with their long-term career goals.
They accepted the offer and went on to:
Lead the newly acquired business unit
Build a business development strategy that balances technical excellence with market expansion.
Bring cohesion between the acquired company and the parent organization.
This search brought together technical depth, leadership acumen, and commercial alignment, precisely the kind of hire TLR Search delivers for complex, high-impact energy, chemical, and industrial roles.
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