How Shirley Parsons helped a leading European terminal operator appoint a Group HSSE & Sustainability Director to strengthen safety performance, drive cultural change and support its Zero Harm and Net Zero ambitions.
How Shirley Parsons helped a leading European terminal operator appoint a Group HSSE & Sustainability Director to strengthen safety performance, drive cultural change and support its Zero Harm and Net Zero ambitions.
A leading European terminal operator undergoing rapid transformation faced a critical leadership gap. With 16 strategically operated terminals and over 14,000 employees, the business was pivoting from traditional dry bulk towards sustainable energy and hydrogen projects. Safety performance lagged behind industry best practice, particularly at dry bulk sites, and cultural change was essential to reduce risk and protect investor confidence.
The vacancy for a Group HSSE & Sustainability Director posed significant challenges: an urgent timeline, uneven safety maturity across sites, and the need for a versatile leader to embed a Zero Harm and Net Zero vision, while aligning HSE strategies across multiple jurisdictions.
We engaged on an exclusive retained basis to identify a leader capable of balancing strategic oversight with operational credibility. Our team held in-depth stakeholder consultations across the COO, CFO, HR, and CEO to align on success criteria.
Using our specialist HSSE network and market intelligence, we mapped candidates from high-risk sectors including oil & gas, logistics, and aerospace. Emphasis was placed on individuals experienced in transformational leadership, cultural change, and ESG frameworks.
A rigorous assessment process evaluated not only technical competence but also resilience, adaptability, and ability to foster engagement across diverse terminal teams.
Within 4.5 months, we delivered a shortlist of 16 high-caliber candidates. The chosen individual brought 25+ years of leadership experience spanning terminal operations, sustainability programs, and global compliance frameworks. Joining in August 2024, he immediately began driving measurable improvements in health & safety maturity and embedding sustainability into core operations.
Nearly two years after the appointment, the business is seeing stronger safety performance, renewed employee engagement, and tangible progress toward Zero Harm and Net Zero objectives.
Client Feedback:
“Clear understanding of HSSE market, strong network, and very pleasant consultants to work with.”
Whether you’re strengthening your executive team, leading organisational change or searching for specialist HSSE and Sustainability leadership, Shirley Parsons can help you identify and secure the right talent. Get in touch to discuss your leadership hiring needs.
