1. The Challenge:
Logitech, a global leader in personal computer and mobile accessories, identified India as a critical growth market with ambitious plans to significantly scale their business operations. To achieve this transformational growth, Logitech needed to find an exceptional leader to serve as Head of India who could navigate the complex dynamics of managing a well-established team spread across multiple locations, while driving strategic partnerships with key distributors and retailers.
The role represented a unique leadership challenge: the successful candidate would need to earn the trust of a highly experienced team before implementing any changes, while simultaneously scaling operations and managing the delicate balance between online and offline channels in one of the world’s most competitive consumer electronics markets.
2. Profile Needed:
The ideal candidate for Logitech’s Head of India position required a rare combination of strategic vision, cultural sensitivity, and proven execution capabilities in the Indian market..
- Extensive experience in both B2B and B2C environments
- Strong dual expertise in sales and marketing functions
- Deep understanding of Indian retail landscape, including traditional distribution and modern e-commerce platforms
- Currently working in India or maximum 2 years outside the market to ensure market relevance
- Exceptional relationship-building skills to manage matrix organizations and key stakeholder partnerships
- Cultural intelligence to build trust with established teams before implementing change
- Strategic mindset balanced with field presence and hands-on leadership approach
- Strong preference for diverse candidates to enhance diversity
3. The Search Process:
Recognizing the complexity of this critical appointment, Logitech partnered with LS International, leveraging the firm’s deep expertise in the consumer technology sector and emerging markets. The systematic approach began with comprehensive stakeholder alignment to understand the nuanced cultural and business dynamics at play.
LS International implemented a rigorous multi-stage process involving detailed calibration sessions with Logitech’s leadership team. The firm’s meticulous approach to candidate evaluation and ranking methodology proved invaluable in identifying the right cultural and professional fit.
A key differentiator in the process was the discovery that sales experience held greater weight than marketing background, which required strategic pivoting in the search focus. This insight, combined with comprehensive understanding of the Indian talent landscape, enabled LS International to identify candidates who could truly drive the ambitious revenue scaling objectives.
The process included multiple comprehensive interview rounds with extensive stakeholder involvement, reflecting the strategic importance of this role. Throughout the extended timeline, LS International maintained candidate engagement and provided detailed briefings to ensure alignment with Logitech’s values: “Be Yourself. Be Open. Stay Hungry and Humble. Collaborate. Challenge. Decide and just Do.”
4. The Outcome:
After a thorough evaluation process, LS International successfully placed Manoj, an exceptional leader whose blend of strategic thinking, market expertise, and cultural sensitivity made him the ideal candidate to lead Logitech’s ambitious India expansion.
Reflecting on the search experience, Moninder Jain, VP and Head of Emerging Markets at Logitech, shared: “I actually have no feedback for you because I think you followed the process which we all agreed on to the letter… It’s always great when people stick to their brief and implement and execute perfectly. So I am always one for excellent execution over just strategy. And I think you guys executed perfectly.”
Manoj’s appointment represents a strategic win for Logitech’s India operations. His proven ability to balance strategic oversight with field presence, combined with his patient approach to understanding existing processes, positions him perfectly to navigate the leadership challenges ahead. His collaborative style and deep market knowledge enable him to build the crucial trust required with both internal teams and external partners.
The successful placement demonstrates the value of finding a leader who understands the importance of relationship-building in the Indian market while possessing the strategic vision to drive significant business growth across Logitech’s diverse product portfolio spanning Music, Gaming, and Wearables categories.
Key Takeaways
This engagement reinforces the critical importance of cultural intelligence in executive search, particularly in markets like India where relationship-building and trust establishment are paramount to success. LS International’s ability to identify the nuanced leadership requirements – specifically the need for patience and trust-building before change implementation – was crucial to finding the right cultural fit.
The search also highlighted the value of systematic evaluation processes and stakeholder alignment. By implementing clear ranking criteria and maintaining detailed feedback loops, LS International was able to navigate complex stakeholder requirements while keeping high-caliber candidates engaged through an extended evaluation timeline.
Furthermore, this case demonstrates the importance of market-specific expertise in executive search. Understanding the Indian talent landscape, including the balance between sales and marketing expertise and the availability of diverse candidates, enabled LS International to optimize the search strategy and deliver exceptional results.
At LS International, the firm specializes in connecting companies with transformational leaders in emerging markets and the consumer technology sector. The systematic approach, combined with deep market insights and extensive networks, enables LS International to deliver exceptional talent solutions for mission-critical leadership roles.
Contact us today to learn how we can help you achieve your executive search objectives.
