Global Facilities Manager for Janus Henderson Investors

Background

Maxwell Stephens partnered with Janus Henderson Investors, a leading global asset management firm, to recruit a Global Facilities Manager to oversee and streamline its international facilities operations. This case study sets out the brief, what made it difficult, and how the placement was made.

Janus Henderson Investors was formed through the merger of Janus Capital Group and Henderson Global Investors, and manages assets for institutions, retail investors and private clients worldwide. The firm places a high value on service and investment outcomes, and it needed a Global Facilities Manager capable of managing an extensive property portfolio and ensuring efficient facility operations across multiple regions.

The Challenge

Three factors made this a demanding search:

• Global scope. The role covered facilities across multiple continents, so the candidate needed extensive international experience — not a UK portfolio with an overseas office or two attached. Managing buildings the manager will rarely visit calls for a different skill set: governance, regional supplier management and the judgement to know when a local issue needs central intervention.
• Complex requirements. The candidate had to combine strategic direction, operational expertise and strong leadership. Many senior facilities professionals are strong in one or two of these; the brief needed all three.
• Industry knowledge. A deep understanding of the asset management industry and its particular facility needs was essential. Financial services workplaces are client-facing and closely regulated, and the standards expected of them leave little room for error.

Our Approach

To meet the firm's requirements, Maxwell Stephens ran a multi-stage recruitment process:

• Detailed client consultation. We began with in-depth consultations with key stakeholders at Janus Henderson Investors to understand the requirements, the company culture and the specific challenges attached to the role.
• Targeted search. Using our network and search tools, we identified potential candidates with the necessary international experience and industry knowledge. The search spanned multiple regions to build a diverse pool of well-qualified candidates.
• Screening and assessment. Candidates went through detailed interviews and assessments to evaluate technical skills, strategic thinking and cultural fit with Janus Henderson Investors.
• Client collaboration. Throughout the process we kept in close contact with the firm, providing regular updates and involving its stakeholders at key stages of selection so that the shortlist stayed aligned with expectations.

The Outcome

After an extensive search and thorough vetting, we placed a highly experienced Global Facilities Manager with Janus Henderson Investors. The selected candidate brought over 20 years of international facilities management experience, a proven track record in the financial services sector, and the leadership qualities needed to drive continuous improvement across the firm's global facilities.

Why This Placement Worked

Global facilities roles are sometimes filled on the strength of a large domestic portfolio, on the assumption that scale transfers across borders. It rarely does; the differences in regulation, supplier markets and working culture between regions are precisely what make the job hard. This search was scoped as genuinely international from the outset, and the assessment tested for that experience specifically.

If you are recruiting a facilities leader for a multi-region portfolio, Maxwell Stephens can help you define the brief and reach candidates with the international track record it requires. Get in touch with our team.