Case Study  Strategic Search for Director of Marketing — Residential Mortgage Lender

Challenge:
A residential mortgage lender struggled for more than three years to fill a Director of Marketing role. The company relied heavily on internal referrals and personal networks, resulting in several  hires, resulting in several hires who each left within a year. These misfires created a ripple effect, failed CRM implementations, inconsistent branding, and internal frustration, that significantly set back both marketing and sales efforts (performance?).

Solution:
The lender engaged Huffman Associates to lead a retained search. Huffman conducted a comprehensive national market search and delivered a slate of candidates  whose skills and experience precisely aligned with the client’s needs.  Unlike previous hires made through personal connections, Huffman’s process emphasized cross-functional expertise, cultural fit and the full skill set required to succeed in the in the lender’s dynamic business environment.

Outcome:
Huffman Associates completed the search in under 60 days from intake to candidate start date. The selected candidate has exceeded expectations, and the client has seen dramatic improvements in marketing execution, systems integration, and overall strategic alignment.

This engagement underscores the value of a rigorous national search process and thorough market evaluation over informal network hiring, particularly in roles requiring cross-departmental leadership and specialized skill sets.