The Background

Toi Ohomai was formed in 2016 from the merger of Waiariki Institute of Technology and the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic. Home to more than 14,000 students and over 1,000 staff, the merger was a significant event. CEO, Dr Leon Fourie, who was placed by Sheffield Search, led the formation of a new leadership team. He was supported by Sheffield Search in the sourcing and selection of six executive positions.

 

What We Did to Help

Significant importance was placed on the psychometric assessment of candidates, particularly relating to values ‘fit’. Prior to this process Sheffield Search was asked to advise on organisational design following a broad consultation process with the senior leadership and management groups of both institutions.

“For us at Toi Ohomai, there was a sense of authentic partnering with Sheffield Search”, said Dr Fourie. “Its mantra was to truly understand where Toi Ohomai was heading as an institution and which differentiating leadership qualities were needed to craft a recruitment plan that delivered a talented and well-balanced senior leadership team rather than a team of individual leaders.”

 

What Happened as a Result

The Executive Management Team was chosen not only for its ability to deliver on the strategic intent, but also for its experience in leading transformation and change management, an outcome Dr Fourie was very pleased with.

“Sheffield Search owned the outcome of the process as much as we did – it takes huge pride in its work and that flows through to not only an excellent client experience, but the applicants were treated with the same dignity. My expectations were truly surpassed.”

With main campuses in Rotorua and Tauranga and sites across the Bay of Plenty and South Waikato, Toi Ohomai is now the largest tertiary provider in the region and the third largest institute of technology in New Zealand.

Posted in: Case Studies

sourcing, selecting and shaping leaders