GSO Search
& Selection

Tailored Executive & Manager Search and Selection

We partner with organizations to help them find and onboard high-value top managers who seamlessly fit into their corporate environment.

Based in Padua and operating nationwide with a strong focus on Northern Italy, Search & Selection is GSO Consulting’s division specializing in executive search and top-management recruitment.

Our approach is built on a customized process, defined and agreed upon with the client based on corporate culture and strategy. Through our “Human Boutique” method, we attract and motivate qualified candidates while guaranteeing direct, discreet, and professional engagement with our consultants: experts who possess deep knowledge of the market, the local territory, and specialized industries.

Our Services

We go beyond the search and selection of managers and executives. We support organizations through a broader range of processes, including:
Executive Search
Middle Management Search
Family Business Advisory
Market & Talent Intelligence
International Search

What sets us apart in the market:

  1. Tailored Approach: Deep listening and complete understanding of the role, corporate culture, expectations, and strategic context.
  2. Methodological Rigor: Structured market, industry, and organizational analyses aimed at comprehensive mapping of the best profiles. Our team of psychologists uses structured in-depth interviews, alongside diagnostic and psychometric tools,to drive objective, data-driven decisions that maximize the long-term success of selection, onboarding, and collaboration.
  3. Cultural Alignment: To us, the ideal candidate is not only the most technically qualified, but the one who truly aligns with the company’s vision.
  4. Market and Local Knowledge: We have an in-depth understanding of Northern Italy’s business fabric, with a core focus on the Northeast and its distinct business segments. This enables us to quickly map top performers across any sector.
  5. Global Vision: We have the capability to reach global talent and offer internationalization opportunities through exclusive partnerships, such as our alliance with INAC Global Executive Search.

Our "Human Boutique" Approach to the Search & Selection of Managers and Executives

A Commitment to Listening, a Culture of Proximity

Our Search and Selection methodology is not limited to the application of a rigid process, but stems from a deep commitment to listening and a management of real proximity to the needs of the Client Company and the aspirations of the candidate.

We believe that methodological excellence rooted in quality must necessarily integrate with a native concept of tailor-made precision. Each mandate is a unique project: our structure is designed to shape and adapt itself to the specific objective of the client, whether it is a single targeted placement or a broader Talent Mapping project.

Headhunting: The Search and Selection Process

Our approach to Headhunting is developed through 7 synergistic phases, structured to guarantee maximum transparency, scientific rigor, and an effective De-risking of the investment:
  1. Analysis of the Corporate Context and Timeline:
    Every project begins with an in-depth meeting with the client to immerse ourselves in their history, values, mission, and business objectives.
    This phase allows us to define the ideal profile of the candidate, placing them perfectly within the organizational context.
    During this meeting, we share and validate a clear and agreed-upon Project Timeline, ensuring the Company has a transparent view of all phases and their respective timings.
  2. Business Intelligence: Target Company List and Market Mapping
    Through a structured study of the relevant competitive landscape, we compile a Target Company List of preferred organizations and sectors that will be the subject of a targeted investigation.
    This analytical benchmarking process allows us to map top performers in the market, identify potential suitable candidates, and compile the Long List of the best candidacies aligned with the company’s needs.
  3. Screening and Evaluation
    We carry out a multidimensional evaluation of candidates through targeted exploratory interviews and in-depth discussions. We do not limit ourselves to verifying educational background and technical skills, but analyze in depth soft skills, growth potential, and perfect alignment with the company’s values.
  4. Short List and Individual Assessment
    We present a Short List of highly qualified professionals whose experience, profile, and motivation are closely aligned with the role and its requirements. To eliminate onboarding risks and upon specific request of the Company, we also conduct Individual Assessment
  5. Through the GSO Assessment & Development division, we offer competence assessment and development services for the selected candidates, provided through innovative diagnostic and psychometric tools produced by GSO Psychometrics, to explore in the greatest detail managerial skills, guiding values, and true motivations.
  6. Candidate Selection and Contract Definition
    We support the company in the decision-making phase of the final choice, assisting in contract negotiation and the correct management of expectations for both parties.
    This phase concludes with the signing of the contract and meticulous care in providing personalized feedback to all candidates involved.
  7. Onboarding and Follow-up Over Time
    Our commitment continues even after the finalization of the mandate. We accompany the individual during the critical Onboarding phase to facilitate an effective transition and rapid integration into the corporate culture. Through regular and structured follow-ups with the client and the candidate, we monitor performance and the progressive achievement of established goals.

Beyond the Short List: The Project Dossier Document

The candidates Short List is accompanied by tangible proof of the rigor of our investigation. We provide a customized Project Dossier: a strategic document that synthesizes the macroscopic data of the investigation carried out and effectively systematizes the highlights of the entire selection process. Each Dossier is modeled and adapted based on the needs of the Client Company and the specific nature of the assignment.

Candidate Experience: Respecting and Valuing People at Every Stage of the Process

At GSO Search & Selection, we are aware that every contact with professionals in the market represents a crucial moment for the Brand Reputation of the companies with which we partner. For this reason, we transform the search and selection process into an experience of authentic and shared value. We place respect and personal growth at the center, not as a simple procedure, but because we are convinced that nurturing the relationship is the only way to safeguard, grow, and enhance corporate identity in the market.

We take care of the candidate experience through three fundamental pillars:

  • Clear and Transparent Communication: We guarantee regular updates on the status of the application, maintaining maximum transparency regarding timelines and expectations through a dialogue that is always respectful, empathetic, and aimed at appreciating the individual.
  • Personalized Interaction: We offer individual feedback and meaningful engagement, which includes preparation and discussion sessions prior to interviews. We maintain continuous contact to gather impressions, reflections, and questions, with constant attention to the professional’s aspirations and cultural fit.
  • Structured and Positive Interviews: We organize interactive and smooth meetings, offering the candidate full visibility of the subsequent steps in the selection process.

Timelines and Strategic Planning

Certainty of timing and respect for quality standards are an integral part of our professional ethics:

  • Short List Presentation: The delivery of the Short List of suitable candidates can be expected approximately within 4-5 working weeks from the date the assignment is officially awarded. It is our care to keep partners constantly informed of the progress of the search and selection process. The specific timelines are, in any case, redefined and calibrated together, in keeping with the tailor-made nature of the project.

  • Assessment and Onboarding: The Managerial Assessment & Onboarding activity is naturally positioned downstream of the Search and Selection process, and is activated upon the specific request of the Client to ensure a successful transition and maximize the long-term effectiveness of the placement.

Our Target Markets (Industries)

We map and analyze dynamic and complex markets, combining market intelligence with the agility to navigate both established industries and emerging, highly innovative sectors:

  • Industrial & Manufacturing: Automotive, packaging, precision mechanics, industrial automation, and advanced component manufacturing.
  • Fashion, Luxury & Design: Driving excellence across the fashion system, high-end retail, furniture, and international designsectors.
  • Consumer Goods (FMCG): Food & Beverage, mass grocery retail (GDO), cosmetics, and fast-moving consumer goods.
  • Life Sciences & Healthcare: Pharmaceutical sector, research services, veterinary services.
  • Chemical & Materials: Fine chemicals, plastic materials, rubber, and industrial transformation chains.
  • Family Business (through a dedicated division): Cross-functional strategic support for family businesses to manage generational succession and introduce external management.

Functional Areas Covered (Functions)

We identify and select leaders capable of driving corporate strategies and optimizing organizational performance across all major reporting lines:

  • Board & C-Level: Chief Executive Officer (CEO), General Manager, Board Members, and senior strategic leadership roles.
  • Human Resources*: Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO), HR Director, Talent Management, Industrial Relations, and Organization Manager.
  • Finance & Administration*: Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Administration & Controlling Manager, Risk Management, and Tax Specialist.
  • Sales & Marketing: Commercial Director, Marketing & Communication Manager, Business Development, and Key Account Management.
  • Operations & Supply Chain*: Operations Director, Plant Manager, Supply Chain & Logistics Director, Procurement, and Quality Assurance.
  • Technical & R&D: Technical Director, R&D Manager, Engineering, and product or process innovation managers.
  • Digital, Technology & Innovation*: Chief Information Officer (CIO), Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Chief Digital Officer (CDO), IT Director, E-commerce Manager, Cybersecurity managers, Data Officer, and Digital Transformation Leader.

About usOur team

Valentina Zacchia
Equity Partner/Head of GSO Search & SelectionValentina Zacchia
Toniato2
Sr ConsultantGiada Toniato
Ilenia Quaglieri
Sr ConsultantIlenia Quaglieri
Davanzo_2
Sr ConsultantMaria Davanzo
Veronica Mordeglia
ConsultantVeronica Mordeglia
GSO Convention 2025
ConsultantAnna Maria Cometa

What we doOur other service lines

Five areas of expertise for a single hub.

GSO Consulting: five areas of expertise for a unique hub in human resources consulting. We look at scenarios from above to elevate the value of Human Capital. We intercept stimuli from below to activate change in real time. We read weak signals to empower people and organizations.
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Psychometrics

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Assessment
& Development

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Change
& Learning

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HR
Digital

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with Valentina ☕
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If you are considering turning to a head hunter for the search and selection of a manager or high-profile figure for your business, contact us through the contact form or our direct contacts, you will find us in both Padua and Milan.