CASE: Dimexon Eurostar - International Search

Dimexon Eurostar is an international group in the diamond and jewellery business that was founded in 1939. They have a worlwide network of manufacturing operations and sales offices. With over 15.000 employees they are located in several cities all over the world: New York (USA), Antwerp (Belgium), Dubai (UAE), Gaborone (Botswana), Mumbai (India), Hong Kong, Qindao and Shanghai (China). They have partnerships with, amongst others, Diamond Trading Company (De Beers), Rio Tinto Diamonds, BHP Biliton and Alrosa.

Relying on the expertise of Seven Seas

In 2005 the branch in Hong Kong was founded for high-end jewellery. It exports to major clients in the watch and jewellery brands. Dimexon Eurostar employs more than 400 people, amongst which 10 expats.

For the branches in Hong Kong and Qingdao, Dimexon was looking for two expats in factory management. For Europe and the Middle East, they were in need of a product manager and head of sales & marketing. They relied on the expertise of our senior consultants at Seven Seas to find the right people, with the right background.

Expats Factory Management in Hong Kong & Qingdao

Expat Factory General Manager

  • Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering
  • Successful track record as a plant or factory manager
  • Experience in diamond/jewellery industry or a similar high-precision and assembly-oriented industry
  • Experience as a (European) expat in Asia
  • Knowledge of the language is an extra asset

Expat Manager Product Engineering

  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Industrial Design & Engineering
  • Experience in desgin & industrial engineering for jewellery
  • Knowledge of Rapid Prototyping, model making, CAD etc.
  • Experience in a managing role
1. Database search: screening industry specific internal files
  • Expat profiles for plant, factory, manufacturing and production management.
  • Seven Seas database for technical specialists in the diamond and/or jewellery industry.
2. External search (networking)
  • Personal contacts or relations within the sector.
  • Write to the Major Jewellery Association (Europe)
  • Questionnaires for potential candidates
  • Campus career service: e.g. Birmingham Polytechnic School of Jewellery & Goldsmithing
  • Expat communities
  • Via LinkedIn questionnaires and references
3. Web based search: advertising and online cv search
  • Postings on generalist job sites throughout Europe
  • Expat job sites in China (for Shanghai and Hong Kong)

Sales & Marketing Team Europe & Middle East

Jewellery Sales & Product Manager, Europe

  • High-end Jewellery Industry professional
  • Experience in business development, product management, marketing, and retail merchandising
  • Knowledge of the European hight-tech juwellery market (especially Italy, UK and France)
  • Multilingual (English – French – Italian)

Head of Jewellery Sales & Marketing, Europe & Middle East

  • Senior Sales & Marketing Manager
  • Experience in high-end luxury brands (jewellery, watches, fashion…)
  • Knowledge of retail key account & distributor management
  • Profound knowledge of European & Middle Eastern markets for luxury goods
  • Multilingual (English – French – Italian)
1. Database search: screening industry specific internal files
  • European and Middle Eastern B2B Sales & Marketing Management for high-end luxury brands.
  • Seven Seas database for commercial profiels in the diamond and/or jewellery industry.
2. External search (networking)
  • Personal contacts or relations within the sector.
  • Questionnaires for potential candidates
  • Detecting successful business development managers, and sales & marketing managers with a background in international ‘blue chip’ luxury brands.
3. Web based search: advertising and online cv search
  • Postings on generalist job sites that intersect with commercial centers for jewellery and luxury brands
  • Postings on specialist job sites such as Joblux

Results & Response Handling

  • Expat Factory General Manager:  >400 candidates
  • Expat Manager Product Engineering:  >350 candidates
  • Jewellery Sales & Product Manager:  >300 candidates
  • Head of Jewellery Sales & Marketing:  >500 candidates

The process for all four applications was the same. After collecting all the applications, a first cv screening was done to reduce the number of candidates to a first list of potential individuals who meet the right criteria. All those selected for the long list were then invited for a first interview via Skype.

From those interviews, a second screening was conducted. Several people were invited for a second interview, this time on location in Antwerp, London, Milan, Rome, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Dubai. All candidates were also given a questionnaire to fill out. This was done for various reasons:

  • to select candidates in different locations (e.g.: India, Japan, South-East Asia)
  • assignment for selected and back-up candidates
  • to keep canidates in the loop during longer procedures
  • profound focus on specific sets of skills and knowledge
  • guideline for during interviews
  • is used to pass information through to the client
  • gauges the motivation and seriousness of a candidate’s intent to relocate

Follow-up & End results

Thanks to the (online) interviews, questionnaires and screenings, the longlist could be reduced to a shortlist of adequate candidates for each position.

  • Expat Factory General Manager:  9 candidates
  • Expat Manager Product Engineering:  8 candidates
  • Jewellery Sales & Product Manager:  9 candidates
  • Head of Jewellery Sales & Marketing:  10 candidates

All candidates were then invited for a final interview by the client himself. Our senior consultants at Seven Seas supported the final recruitment process with reference checks, and by mediating and facilitating between the client and candidates concerning salaries, family situations, contracts etc.

All positions were succesfully filled within the year.

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