Background
Founded in 1986, Synopsys is a global leader in electronic design automation (EDA), semiconductor intellectual property, cybersecurity and software engineering solutions. Its technology underpins many of the world's most advanced innovations, from artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles to cloud computing, high-performance semiconductors and next-generation communications.
Operating across dozens of countries, Synopsys supports a large international workforce through an extensive portfolio of offices, engineering centres and research facilities. As the business continued to grow throughout Europe, it needed an experienced Workplace leader capable of running a highly complex international estate to a consistent standard.
The Challenge
Following an internal restructuring programme, Synopsys appointed Maxwell Stephens, executive search specialists in facilities management, on an exclusive basis to recruit a Director of Workplace Resources — Europe.
This was a strategically important executive appointment, with responsibility for leading Workplace Resources across 17 European countries and more than 60 office locations. Candidates were considered from across Europe, with particular focus on the UK, Germany, France and Portugal.
The successful candidate would lead geographically dispersed teams covering Real Estate, Facilities Management, Workplace Services, Health & Safety and Corporate Security, while partnering closely with senior business leaders across the region. The role required someone capable of:
- Leading and developing international Workplace, Facilities and Security teams.
- Managing large operational and capital budgets across multiple countries.
- Driving operational consistency while respecting local market requirements.
- Leading workplace transformation and strategic property initiatives.
- Overseeing facilities operations, workplace services, real estate transactions and space planning.
- Managing outsourced service providers and vendor performance.
- Supporting major workplace projects across Europe.
- Delivering continuous improvement in cost efficiency, employee experience and operational performance.
Given the scale of the remit and the international nature of the appointment, finding the right individual required an extensive executive search across multiple European markets. Regional workplace leaders of this kind are a small population: the role calls for someone who has already run real estate, facilities and security across several jurisdictions, each with its own employment law, lease conventions and supplier market, and who can hold their own with senior business leaders.
Our Approach
Recognising the complexity of the assignment, Maxwell Stephens designed a bespoke multinational executive search campaign, combining targeted headhunting with carefully managed market engagement:
- Pan-European executive search. A comprehensive search across the UK, Germany, France, Spain and Portugal to identify senior Workplace and Corporate Real Estate leaders with international experience.
- Extensive market mapping. Identifying more than 100 relevant professionals from leading technology companies, multinational corporations and global Workplace organisations.
- Detailed candidate assessment. In-depth discussions with more than 50 senior executives, assessing technical capability, leadership style, cultural fit, international experience and strategic thinking.
- Executive shortlist. A carefully selected shortlist of 16 candidates presented to Synopsys, each capable of leading Workplace Resources across one of Europe's largest corporate estates.
Throughout the assignment, close communication with the client kept the search aligned with Synopsys' strategic objectives and organisational culture.
The Outcome
The campaign concluded with the appointment of a Director of Workplace Resources — Europe. The appointed executive brought extensive international experience in Facilities Management, Corporate Real Estate, Workplace Strategy and operational leadership, providing the expertise required to oversee one of the largest Workplace portfolios in the technology sector.
The appointment enabled Synopsys to strengthen Workplace leadership across Europe while supporting continued business growth, improving operational consistency and enhancing the employee workplace experience throughout the region.
Feedback
"Peter's professionalism and experience is clear to see from the initial conversation through to assignment completion; his focused and thoughtful approach ensures a positive outcome for all parties."
Why This Placement Worked
Multi-country workplace searches tend to fail when they are run from one market with a few speculative approaches elsewhere. This assignment was mapped and approached as a single European market from the outset, with candidates in each target country assessed against the same criteria, which is what made a credible shortlist possible for a role of this breadth.
Maxwell Stephens delivers senior international executive searches across multiple jurisdictions for Workplace, Facilities Management and Corporate Real Estate leadership. If you are recruiting a regional or global workplace leader, get in touch with our team.