A new client said that to us recently. He wasn’t joking. The right hire builds momentum, drives growth and strengthens culture. The wrong hire drains time, money and energy and often ends up in the hands of lawyers.
Over the past year, we’ve seen more businesses approaching Redfox to untangle themselves from poor recruitment decisions. Mid to senior commercial hires across commercial, technical, operational disciplines. People who looked outstanding on paper but proved misaligned, underpowered or simply wrong for the role.
Why is this happening?
Urgency is one reason. When a critical role sits vacant, pressure builds. Interviews get rushed. Standards soften. “Good enough” becomes acceptable. Another issue is over-promotion. We have all worked in a business and seen that directly haven’t we. Some candidates are presented as transformational. Bulletproof. Market-leading. But when properly tested, the substance doesn’t match the story.
Experience is also misunderstood. A strong CV or recognisable employer does not guarantee impact. What matters is what the individual has actually delivered. Commercially, operationally and culturally.
And then there is clarity. If the role itself is not precisely defined at the outset such as clearly stating it is growth-focused, stabilising and transformational, the outcome will almost certainly disappoint.
Senior recruitment is not transactional. It is strategic. One wrong hire can set a business back months. One right hire can materially accelerate profitable growth.
The safest way to achieve the latter is alignment with industry recruitment experts who understand your market, your pressures and your commercial realities. At Redfox , we have spent over 20 years successfully sourcing mid to board-level leaders across agriculture and fresh produce, UK and internationally both in the UK and internationally.
There is a big difference between filling a vacancy and strengthening a business.
If you want the right people and the long-term growth that comes with it, then speak to a team that does this properly.
Contact us:
📞 +44 (0)1284 715055
📧 info@redfoxexecutive.com
