Mats Lind, Founder & Managing Partner, Retention Group
“To reach success, the right management team in China is crucial. You need to have the right competence as well as the right company/business culture.”
– Mats Lind, Managing Partner & Founder, Retention Group
Retention has a unique business focus, we specialize in helping Scandinavian companies to find the right management in China. We are always close to our clients headquarter in Scandinavia, as we are based in Malmö, but also to their local sites in China through our Shanghai office.
The reason is the importance of transparency, a key factor to a successful China operation. A lack of transparency means increased risk taking.
Retention has over 5 years of experience recruiting Top Management positions in China and our clients are the leading companies in their industry, with a turnover in China of 10 million EURO to more than 100 million EURO.
With over 300 completed assignments on Top Management level in China we have a profound knowledge of what type of profiles that will create results but also, through our constantly growing network of mostly Scandinavian and European profiles with extensive China experience, we know where to find them.
A successful China operation demands Scandinavian management
There have been many discussions over the years regarding what is the better option – a local or a Scandinavian management. Today most has come to the understanding that a mixed management team is the better option, since you need the deep understanding and knowledge of the local market combined with the ability to implement and operate the China unit according to the company’s general business/company culture.
The growth potential in China is enormous, as are the risks. Therefore it is essential that the investments, efforts and growth are closely monitored – to ensure total control.
Our mission
We help people and companies to grow on the world’s most dynamic market, China.
Our mission is clear and to succeed the most significant thing is quality, something that we will never compromise. We have therefore developed our own method and our goal is to enable and ensure development – for people, their families and our clients. To see that development is what makes our work so rewarding.
Welcome to Retention, if you want your China operation to be successful.
“The local company must bear their own costs. We must decide if we want to have Scandinavian or Chinese culture in the local company. Mixed management is needed if we want to strengthen the western culture”
– Lars-Åke Severin, Chairman Swedish Chamber of Commerce in China.
Retention Clients
Focus
Over the past years, Retention Group has been established as the leading Scandinavian Executive Search Consultancy in China with special focus on recruitment for key positions on top management level. We have a strong business oriented focus. Our primary goal is always to deliver candidates who will perform according to our Clients business goals – from day one, as well as in the long run.
Business value and quality are key words in everything we do.
Clients
Our Clients are Scandinavian companies with, or planning to have, operations in China. In general, our clients have extensive experience of doing business in China, however, as often they lack a Scandinavian actor and business partner who can meet their quality requirements and ensure their Scandinavian business culture.
Usual challenges experienced by our clients in China, include:
- High employee turnover
- Lack of comprehensive insight into the local organisation in China
- Communication difficulties between Scandinavian headquarters and local units in China
- Differences in Chinese and Scandinavian management culture
Assignments
Retention focuses on recruiting management team positions in China. We currently have experience of over 300 completed top-level projects and a well developed method designed specifically for recruitments of business-critical key people. Read more about our method under Retention process.
Our Clients’ needs are our main concern and we have a deep and profound understanding of the difficulties and critical aspects of hiring top managers in China.
Please contact us for more information.
”What currently happens in China is the greatest thing that happened in the People’s Republic of China’s history, what we see is nothing less than a paradigm shift”
– Mats Harborn, Vice President European Union Chamber of Commerce in China
Retention Process
The foundation of Retention is built upon a Scandinavian mindset permeating the whole organisation and our methods. To secure quality throughout our processes, we have developed our own method creating unique opportunities for our clients success. We see potential and we analyse the development and improvement needed to create a keystone for change.
The method is divided into 3 steps and every project is finalized when we have completed the Performance Review.
Reflect
React
Result
Review
View whole Re:3 process
Retention re:3 Process
1. Reflection
We conduct an analysis of the present situation in order to crystallize the company’s strategic and operational goals, the organisational ability to align with the company strategy, as well as important characteristics of the profile needed to provide the best results for our Client.
2. Reaction
Retentions Consultants, specialised in different phases of the search and selection process, works together as a team in order to find the right final candidates.
3. Result
The final step in the recruitment process is to choose which one of the final candidates who will be the chosen one.
4. Review
To secure the quality and high standards of the candidate’s performance, a follow up will be conducted 3 and 6 months after the hiring.
1. Reflection
The analysis as well as the conclusions and the profile will be presented in a thorough report, the ReflectionReport.
2. Reaction
Through the assessment process we have different tools allowing us to create a solid quality assurance of the candidates. Our conclusions and recommendations is presented in the ReactionReport.
3. Result
The client will be guided to finalize with the chosen candidate .
4. Review
12 months after the starting date a Candidate Performance Review Analysis check will be conducted to determine how the candidate has contributed to create value for our Client. This is the final step in our method.
1. Reflection
We conduct an analysis of the present situation in order to crystallize the company’s strategic and operational goals, the organisational ability to align with the company strategy, as well as important characteristics of the profile needed to provide the best results for our Client. The analysis and the conclusions and the profile will be presented in a thorough report, The ReflectionReport.
2. Reaction
Retentions Consultants, specialised in different phases of the search and selection process, works together as a team in order to find the right final candidates. Through the assessment process we have different tools providing us to create a solid quality assurance of the candidates. Our conclusions and recommendations is presented in the ReactionReport.
3. Result
The final step in the recruitment process is to choose which one of the final candidates who will be the chosen one. The client will be guided to finalize with the chosen candidate.
4. Review
To secure the quality and high standards of the candidate’s performance, a follow up will be executed 3 and 6 months after the hiring. 12 months after the starting date a Candidate Performance Review Analysis check will be conducted to determine how the candidate has contributed to create value for our Client.
”China is currently facing major changes. China will move from accumulating assets to get assets to generate revenue. The system is also about to change, the market will play a crucial role – the government sets the rules of the game but then have to take a step back and let the market play on the field”
– Mats Harborn, Vice President European Union Chamber of Commerce in China
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China, the world’s most dynamic market, is constantly changing. The opportunities are great but so are the risks. Great insight and overall knowledge is crucial for long-term successful business operations.
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