Case Study: Sales Manager (Non-Asset, NVOCC - Air & Ocean)

Our client is a subsidiary of their European parent company based in Switzerland with an office based in the Chicago, Illinois area. They offer freight solutions that range from, air ocean in partnership with leading air and maritime carriers. They offer additional services including temperature controlled logistics, warehousing, distribution.

The Challenge

The role required a candidate capable of both driving new business development and managing existing client relationships within a highly competitive logistics market. In addition to technical freight forwarding expertise, the ideal candidate needed to demonstrate strong negotiation skills, customer relationship management capabilities, and the ability to develop tailored logistics solutions for complex client needs.

Key client goals included:

• Identify candidates with proven experience in international freight forwarding sales, specifically across ocean freight and air freight services.

• Source candidates capable of generating new revenue opportunities while maintaining and expanding existing customer relationships.

• Candidate fluency in German was preferred.

Our Approach

Hippogriff Search Partner conducted a targeted search focused on sales and commercial professionals within the freight forwarding and logistics industry. The search strategy concentrated on candidates with backgrounds in international transportation, account management, and logistics solution selling.

After qualifying several prospects, we submitted one standout candidate who:

• Worked as a Sales Manager, and Sr. Manager of Air & Export, in previous companies offering logistics services including forwarding, import/export.

• Was within a commuting distance area of the client’s office in Chicago, which made it easy to coordinate an on-site interview, while meeting their on-site requirements.

• Met the multi-lingual language requirement and was fluent in German.

Results

• Candidate submitted: May 9, 2026

• Offer accepted: March 26, 2026

• Start date: April, 1 2026