Palsgaard A/S, an international producer of specialty food industry products based in Juelsminde, primarily manages its recruitment in-house. However, for particularly challenging hires, they occasionally seek external support. When Senior HR Business Partner Gitte Vejs Thisgaard needed assistance in recruiting a Shipping Manager, she turned to Compass for an initial discussion.
Regarding the choice of a new recruitment partner, Gitte Vejs Thisgaard explains: “We use search partners when time or resources are scarce, or when we have not succeeded in finding the right candidate ourselves. Search partners have access to networks that we simply do not have.” Gitte assessed potential partners based on their specific niche expertise within supply chain and shipping, as well as their ability to handle both national and international recruitments.
A Well-Structured and Trust-Based Process
From the outset, Gitte Vejs Thisgaard was impressed by Compass’ structured approach and transparent communication. Weekly updates ensured that Palsgaard always had a clear overview of the process, including how many candidates were in play. “Having access to Compass’ ‘Client Portal’ worked really well, as it provided notes on candidates and easy access to all relevant information throughout the process,” Gitte notes.
Peter Pallesen, Partner and Regional Director at Compass, led the recruitment process with a strong commitment to understanding Palsgaard’s needs. “Peter is thorough and professional in the initial meetings, where he takes the time to deeply understand the role. Over time, he has gained valuable knowledge about our business, which enables him to provide valuable input and challenge us on what is most important in the candidate profile,” says Gitte. This ongoing dialogue contributed to finding the right candidate for the position, and over the years, the partnership has expanded to include other recruitments within the company.
A Shared Commitment to Integrity and Long-Term Success
A key part of Palsgaard’s company culture is their strong set of values, built on responsibility, loyalty, and commitment. In the first meeting with Gitte and Peter, the word “integrity” quickly became part of the conversation. “Integrity is the foundation of everything we do, and we strive to run our business in a responsible way. This commitment to integrity was evident throughout the entire recruitment process and our collaboration with Compass,” Gitte emphasizes. This shared understanding was a crucial factor in the partnership’s success. “Not just Peter, but everyone we have worked with at Compass has demonstrated a high level of professionalism and integrity,” she adds.
Building on Success: A Growing Partnership
The successful recruitment of the Shipping Manager laid the groundwork for further collaboration on multiple recruitment projects within IT and Supply Chain. “It is a trust-based partnership. For us, it is also important that a recruitment partner is honest about their strengths and limitations. If a task falls outside their expertise, we want them to tell us,” Gitte stresses, adding, “Everyone we have worked with is professional, structured, and highly competent. The fact that we continue to turn to Compass as a recruitment partner speaks for itself.”
