Case Study
See how we deliver high-impact leadership outcomes through structured, strategic executive search.
Case Study
Four Critical Searches. Four Lasting Appointments.
Client: Keolis Commuter Services, Boston
Scope: To identify and appoint exceptional leaders for four specialist, business-critical roles (Bid Director, Deputy Bid Director, Head of Safety, and Vice President of HR).
Impact: Cobalt filled all four roles over approximately two years. Every appointee remains with Keolis today.
The Challenge
Keolis Commuter Services operates the Boston Commuter Rail network in a complex, safety-critical, and highly regulated environment. Each search required a rare combination of technical expertise, leadership capability, and an understanding of the specific operational context. The strongest candidates were unlikely to be actively looking or found through conventional recruitment channels.
Cobalt’s Approach
Cobalt searched the whole relevant market, proactively headhunting active and passive candidates, and persuading high-performing individuals to consider opportunities they may not otherwise have explored. Our sector knowledge, network, and sector credibility enabled us to search and attract candidates beyond obvious job titles and markets, while our two-stage competency-based interview process assessed both technical capability and cultural alignment. We also challenged the brief when expectations around experience, salary, or market availability needed to be reconsidered.
The Outcome
Abdellah inherited an established relationship with Cobalt following our earlier work with Richard Graham and other Keolis leaders. The consistent quality of these appointments enabled him to experience that value first-hand and continue the partnership with confidence.
I inherited the trust in Cobalt, and then I saw it with my own eyes. That trust comes from consistently understanding what we need and delivering in the right way.
