Case study
A leader to define the IT course
A major European airport needed an Enterprise Architect. Someone to elevate their entire IT practice – moving from reactive to strategic, from functional to future-ready.
0
Candidates engaged
from an initial talent pool of 1220
Candidates shortlisted
after conducting 9 in-depth interviews0
Successful hire
from 4 client-interviewed finalistsThe challenge
A major European airport needed an Enterprise Architect. Someone to elevate their entire IT practice – moving from reactive to strategic, from functional to future-ready. The CTO’s brief was uncompromising: a seasoned Enterprise Architect who could not only shape the strategic vision of the function but evolve it into a more mature and forward-looking practice. Our goal was to find candidates that had:
- Proven leadership experience in Architecture from a highly complex matrix environment
- Deep knowledge of governance and architectural frameworks
- Experience delivering and developing projects from strategy to execution
The solution
Like all smart strategies, we started with insight. We unpacked not just the role requirements but the transformation ambition behind them.
Talent mapping
From there, we built a comprehensive talent map – target companies identified, candidates benchmarked, salary data analysed. Market intelligence turned into competitive advantage.
Rigorous evaluation
Every potential candidate underwent rigorous evaluation by our experienced Apex search team. We didn’t just screen – we scrutinised, presenting detailed profiles and strategic commentary to the hiring panel.
Delivering on discretion
Because confidentiality was paramount with this role, we provided our own offices for two full days of offsite interviews.
Owning its entirety
We owned the entire candidate experience: rejections handled with respect, interviews orchestrated seamlessly, psychometric testing managed, feedback loops closed, offers negotiated, post-placement support secured.
Results
From an initial talent pool of 122, we engaged 34 candidates, conducted nine in-depth interviews, and shortlisted six. The client interviewed four. One was selected – and has since stepped into the role of Head of Enterprise Architecture. The airport now has a leader who can architect their future. Someone who brings strategic vision, governance rigour, and the leadership credibility to transform an entire function. That’s not just a hire. That’s organisational evolution, delivered. Our results have been outstanding. ThrougWhat made this whole project fun and positive is that we all worked well as one team towards a common goal. We’re grateful for the partnership that has now developed between us and PeopleScout.
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