Strengthening Finance Leadership to Power Strategic Growth

The
Client

Great Clips, one of largest franchisors in the US

Great Clips is a dominant force in the salon industry, performing over 110 million haircuts annually. They have 4,400 retail locations in 200 North American markets, generating $1.5 billion in network sales.

The Challenge

Executing a strategic growth plan to reignite momentum after the pandemic

Prior to the pandemic, Great Clips experienced 15 years of significant growth, but like many retail businesses, the pandemic disrupted their business, forcing a temporary contraction of their footprint.

While this presented challenges, it also gave the executive team time to shift priorities and rethink their next stage of growth. This pause resulted in a 3-Year Strategic Growth Plan, which included critical technology investments and continued expansion.

To effectively execute this plan, the leadership at Great Clips recognized they needed to strengthen their executive bench. Their finance chief of 24 years engaged us to find a dynamic leader for the newly created Director of Finance role.

The Solution

Finding a strong utility finance leader with franchise expertise

After several hours of in-depth discussion with Great Clips’ CFO and VP of Talent, we realized that the scope of this role, overseeing Tax, Treasury, and FP&A, would require a strong utility finance leader, preferably one with franchise model experience.

Additionally, succession planning was a priority for Great Clips, given the incumbent CFO’s 24-year tenure.

We conducted exhaustive research to find leaders with the right experience, goals, and culture fit to evolve in this role, resulting in a target list of 191 finance executives.

Our wide-ranging research during the PrecisonPath™ process uncovered executives who weren’t looking for a new position, ensuring Great Clips found the right leader, not just the most available leader.

The Outcome

A high-potential finance leader positioned for long-term success

“I had a great experience with Cultura. They were attentive and proactive throughout the entire process. They kept me informed about next steps and my status among other candidates while advocating for both the desires of the company and my personal needs. They made sure to understand my priorities and what I was looking for in an employer. I would highly recommend them.”

GCI’s executive team saw strong fits in almost all of the top 7 candidates but ultimately selected a rising star in finance with experience in technical accounting, strategic FP&A, and team leadership.

She had spent nearly a decade at Radisson Hotel Group, starting in accounting and providing financial support for the company’s franchise network. Most recently, she led a six-person finance team as Director of Finance and Strategy, reporting directly to the CFO.

Her technical expertise, leadership capabilities, and deep understanding of franchise financial models made her an ideal fit, and they have been incredibly happy with her contributions.

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