ThePalioGroupsa.com

Unique Hiring Process

CEO | Founder

2012 - Present China-based

Managing Director Industrial Practice

2007 - 2012 China-based

Captain - Learjet

US, Caribbean, Latin America, Europe

First Officer - MD88

1999 - 2003

Director

1993 - 1999 Hong Kong

Director

2004 - 2007 China-based

Andrew Rickman, OBE

Chairman, Founder & CEO

Rockley Photonics

Jack Cooney

CEO

Somero Enterprises

Doug Wright

CEO

Source Photonics

Toni Bernards

CEO

Battenfeld Cincinatti

Gerhard Heilemann

CEO

Hahn+Kolb Wrkzg GmbH

Vlad Hermann

President

VAST LLC

John Yuncza

CFO (now President)

Somero Enterprises

Randall Hoeflein

President APAC

Rexnord

Joe Braun

Senior Vice President

Global Brand Management &

Asia Operations

Hurco Companies

Gerard Stenson

Director of Sales Asia

Dresser NGS

(now Baker Hughes)

Eric Strecker

VP Sales APAC

Dresser Italia S.R.L.

(now Baker Hughes)

Howard Hohmann

EVP Sales

Somero Enterprises

Klaus Aaen

VP Sales

Suzlon Energy

Todd Judy

Managing Director

Vermeer Asia Pacific

Steve Abbott

VP Huiman Resources

Power Service,

Alstom

Tracey McKenzie

VP Human Resources

JLG Industries

Brian Young

CHRO

Novanta

Bernard Szalkowski

General Manager

Reilly Industries

Carlos Corcelles

VP Human Resources

AJ Antunes

Bret Rodgers

VP Global Human Resources

Sachem Inc

Holly DeNike

Director Human Resources

Cambridge Technology

• 12 years in China
  
• $38 mn revenues
  
• Sudden departure
  
• Urgent replacement
  
• A Player Opportunity

• No.1 brand but under-repped
  
• Singled out A Players
  
• Recruited A+ Player

• 92% Year One: +$35 mn
• 44% Year Two: +$32 mn
• +$102 mn new revenues

• same products
• same pricing
• same team
• same office

• exceptional leader
  

• Yr 1 +$35m

• Yr 2 $35m+$32m = $67m

• Yr 3 $35m+$32m x 2 = $99m

• Yr 4 $35m+$32m x 3 = $131m

• Yr 5 $35m+$32m x 4= $163m

• Total: $495m NEW revenues

New Chief Rep

Old Management

“Michael brought me some great candidates, and within a few months, we hired a standout candidate who is still doing a fantastic job today [2023].

That was in 2007, the China region has been growing continuously since. She's done an exceptional job. This is one of the best stories in my career.”

Eric Strecker

Vice President Sales APAC

Dresser Italia

Speak to Eric. Eric is an active reference for Michael.

• Tier 1 Auto Supplier
  
• $37 million
  
• GM Founder: 10% Equity
  
• Bloated, Opaque, Out of Control
• US HQ: Retake control
• A Player Opportunity
• Goons at the Gate

• Hard-nosed infighter
• Good ethics
  
• Singled out A Players
  

• Retook control
• 50% admin cost cuts
• 40% revenue growth
  
• 236% rev CAGR (5 years)
• 726% profit CAGR (5 years)
• New opportunity
• New factory
• New global business

• same products
• same customers
• same plant
• revitalized L2 team

• exceptional leader
  

“Mike went far beyond our contractual agreements to satisfy our needs when we needed it most, during very difficult and adversarial conditions. The company grew immensely after we made that hire.

I would not hesitate to recommend Mike and his team in China to anyone requiring top quality, dependable and value-for-money management recruitment services.”

Vlad Hermann

President

Vehicle Access Systems Technology

Speak to Vlad. Vlad is an active reference for Michael.

Toni Bernards

CEO

Battenfeld-Cincinnati

At the beginning we had our doubts about the value-for-money. Especially because the initial offer from Palio was certainly more expensive than most HR service providers in China. But the intensity, quality and final success showed that “You get what you pay for” is still valid. The value for money was very good.

Gerhard Heilemann

CEO

Hahn + Kolb GmbH

“Hahn + Kolb received good value for money from Michael -- and the timeliness we absolutely had to have in recruiting for this critical position.The process was professionally managed from beginning to end and we recruited, with Michael’s assistance, a very good MD/CEO for our China operations.”

Jack Cooney

CEO

Somero Enterprises

“Michael impressed us very much. Very solid process, good understanding of our needs, and a 3-year plan to be paid on employee’s results.”

Rating: 100

Vlad Hermann

President

V.A.S.T. LLC

“To give you an idea of the benefits we achieved through close cooperation with Michael and his team over the past four years recruiting all of our senior management, last year, our China business grew by almost 40%. We were able to reduce administrative staff by almost 50%, and our profitability doubled. I think that speaks for itself.”

Vlad Hermann

President

V.A.S.T. LLC

And here’s Vlad five years later…

“Thanks to Mike’s support, we were able to multiply our China profits from USD 1 million to 8 million and more than double revenues from USD 37 million to USD 88 million, while nearly freezing headcount. That’s phenomenal!”

John Yuncza

CFO

(now President)

Somero Enterprises

“…we really benefited from the quality of screening, Michael’s honesty and trustworthiness, and the ongoing market education we received.

If you are a mid-sized US company operating in China, whether you’re considering recruiting immediately or down the road, I would heartily recommend you use Michael and Palio. I would also recommend your chatting with Michael early on as a start, so you can gather useful insights from him.”

“Michael is honest as the day is long, and I love it. He has integrity. He makes the time to find out exactly what you want out of the candidate.

Most recruiters don't ask that, they just ask for a job description. But Michael wants to know what are you looking for as a result, so in six months, what's your deliverable?”

Randall Hoeflein

President APAC

Rexnord

Joe Braun

Senior Vice President

Global Brand Management & Asia Operations

Hurco Companies

“...we have worked with many large, multinational recruiters (Korn Ferry, Spencer Stuart, etc.). The results were okay, but the searches took longer, and it seemed like we worked mostly with junior recruiters.

From my experience working with Michael, here’s what you can expect. He is professional and experienced, will keep you well-informed, and he will coach you, as he did me. Michael was forthright and honest. He didn’t embellish candidates capabilities – he presented the plus/minus of each and let us decide. I enjoyed the experience.

Overall grade: 90% (nobody gets 100).

Gerard Stenson, Director of Sales Asia

Dresser NGS Asia

(now GE Oil & Gas)

Michael demonstrated considerable resilience and tenacity in filling a key sales leadership position, for a high growth segment in our China Natural Gas Solutions business.

The end result was the right candidate being recruited, who quickly made a difference and moved this business to the next development phase.

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Howard Hohmann

EVP Sales

Somero Enterprises

Michael impressed us very much. The process of selection, the score card and the dynamics the company brings. We knew he would find the right person, we just didn’t know how long it would take based on past experience.

Very professional, provides updates on a weekly basis, no surprises always keeps the team abreast of any changes in direction or thoughts. Stays close and understands both parties.

Everything is clear and to the point

There was never a time where I thought Palio was not doing their job and that we had made the wrong decision to hire.

Bernard Szalkowski

General Manager

Reilly Industries

“You were able to meet our deadlines and conducted a thorough search of the market to ensure that shortlisted candidates met our stringent standards. You also helped us understand the regional job market prior to the search which enabled us to understand the trade-offs we faced, and make a decision to localize this key position.

Your professional skills, maturity and intuitive approach to our situation have benefited Reilly handsomely.”

Brian Young

CHRO

Novanta

Michael brought me, the best hire in China I’ve ever made and I’ve been working in China for over a decade.”

Tracey McKenzie

Global VP

Human Resources

JLG Industries

“The people The Palio Group brought in have added a tremendous amount of talent and capability to the JLG team in China and Asia, so — an outstanding job.

It is a whole different ball game for us now…the results are game changing for us.”

Steve Abbott

VP Human Resources

Power Service, Alstom

“A short note to thank you… for the excellent work done on our recent senior recruitment exercise…superb candidates…

You have materially altered Alstom’s competitive stance in the China market…in a relatively short period and in an open, communicative, and consultative style.”

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Brett Rodgers

Vice President

Global Human Resources

Sachem Inc.

“Michael does a lot of upfront scrutiny around deliverables and what the key outcomes are that you want. What do you want to achieve?

So it's not just, ’Hey, I'll find you a candidate with the qualifications you want.’ It's, ‘I'll find the candidate with the qualifications you want — who can produce the outcomes that you want.’

There's a world of difference between the two.”

Ben Xia

MD North Asia

Vanderlande Industries

“Michael recruited me to a company with …barely any revenues in a very tough competitive market…ranked last amongst its industry rivals in China.

It has taken…7 years, I have taken the company from near-zero to Euro 45 million in annual revenues, and from last to first place in industry rankings in China.

I think this speaks volumes for what is possible with Michael’s quality approach to executive recruitment.”

Jason Jin

President

AES Deepwater, Inc.

“Michael and I worked together on a very important and complicated position in China. As one of his candidates, I was impressed by Michael’s communication and interpersonal skills, and his ability to match a candidate’s experience to his client’s expectations.

Michael always treated me with respect, communicated in a transparent manner, and was mindful of the new position’s potential impact on my career development. At the same, I know he was very respectful of his clients’ needs.”

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