Executive Search Success Story: Rebuilding the Operations, Quality, and Launch Leadership for a Private-Equity-Backed Tier 2 Automotive Supplier

How JRG Partners executed a confidential, multi-role North American executive search strategy that equipped a private-equity-backed Tier 2 automotive components supplier with the operations, quality, launch, and supply chain leadership required to exit OEM new business hold, recover launch performance, restore margins across six plants, and deliver the sponsor’s value-creation plan.

The Challenge

A private-equity-backed Tier 2 automotive supplier had been placed on new business hold by a major OEM customer following repeated launch delays and quality escapes, cutting it off from new program awards. Across its six plants, on-time delivery had slipped, cost of quality exceeded 5% of revenue, and three recent launches had required premium freight and OEM containment. The incumbent operations leader had been removed, and the sponsor’s margin plan was off track. Executive leadership identified several critical vulnerabilities threatening the value-creation plan:

• OEM new business hold blocking new program awards and threatening the growth plan
• Three recent launches delayed with premium freight, containment, and OEM escalation
• Cost of quality above 5% of revenue with customer escapes at multiple plants
• Six plants with inconsistent operating systems, launch processes, and quality practices
• Supply chain disruptions and sub-tier supplier performance contributing to launch and delivery failures
• Sponsor margin and growth targets dependent on operational and customer recovery

Recognizing that recovery required a complete operations leadership rebuild, the CEO and sponsor engaged JRG Partners to recruit a Chief Operating Officer, VP of Quality, VP of Program Management & Launch, VP of Supply Chain, and Director of Operational Excellence. The company required an executive search partner with deep automotive supplier expertise and access to leaders who had exited OEM holds and turned around multi-plant supplier operations.

Why They Chose JRG Partners

Automotive Supplier Operations Expertise

JRG Partners possesses deep recruiting expertise across Tier 1 and Tier 2 automotive suppliers and precision component manufacturers, including operations, quality, launch, and supply chain leadership. This domain knowledge ensured an immediate understanding of OEM escalation processes, launch readiness requirements, IATF quality systems, and multi-plant supplier economics.

OEM Recovery Experience

Our team specializes in identifying leaders who have lifted OEM new business holds, recovered launch performance, and rebuilt quality systems across supplier plant networks.

Private Equity Value-Creation Alignment

JRG Partners has extensive experience serving automotive-focused private equity sponsors and portfolio companies, with a clear understanding of margin targets, customer recovery timelines, and the urgency of multi-role operations leadership placements.

Our Executive Search Strategy

Phase 1 — Operations & Customer Review

Our consultants partnered directly with the CEO, sponsor operating partners, and OEM account leadership to review the new business hold, launch failures, cost of quality, plant performance, and supply chain issues. This review sequenced the search to place operations and quality leadership first.

Phase 2 — Industry Talent Mapping

Our research team performed an extensive talent mapping initiative targeting operations, quality, launch, and supply chain executives at Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers and precision manufacturers who had led documented supplier turnarounds. Over 390 executives were systematically assessed across these sectors.

Phase 3 — Candidate Engagement

Priority during outreach was given to leaders with a documented history of lifting OEM holds, delivering launches on time, reducing cost of quality, standardizing operating systems across plants, and stabilizing automotive supply chains. Only candidates meeting these strict performance baselines advanced.

Phase 4 — Final Selection

Finalists presented turnaround and customer recovery plans to the CEO and sponsor, completed structured leadership assessments, and underwent reference verification focused on quantified operational, quality, and customer outcomes.

Key Outcomes

• 390+ automotive operations, quality, and launch executive profiles mapped across North America.
• Successfully placed a synchronized leadership tier spanning chief operations, quality, program launch, supply chain, and operational excellence.
• Lifted OEM new business hold within nine months.
• Delivered four consecutive launches on time with no containment.
• Cut cost of quality by more than half across six plants.
• Restored margins and OEM awards to the sponsor’s value-creation plan.