Equipping Aer Lingus with transformational talent
Supporting change and growth across technology, finance, and operations
Case Study: Equipping Aer Lingus with Transformational Talent
Aer Lingus is an Irish-operated airline and a proud member of the International Airlines Group (IAG) alongside sister airlines British Airways, Vueling, and Iberia. Carrying approximately 12 million passengers a year, Aer Lingus operates a robust transatlantic schedule across North America, coupled with a very strong European network.
Case Study: Equipping Aer Lingus with Transformational Talent
Aer Lingus is currently undergoing a massive, organization-wide transformation program. To support this, they required top-tier, niche expertise across multiple large departments including technology, finance, HR, flight crew, and airport operations.
Helen van Tonder, Head of Customer Contact, noted that finding candidates with specific, high-level skillsets such as conversational AI, Verint, and AWS Service Cloud is incredibly difficult to do independently. They needed a recruitment partner capable of finding “Change Masters” who could immediately land, expand, and deliver results within a demanding operational environment.
The Solution: A “Silver Bullet” Partnership
Oliver James partnered with Aer Lingus to serve as a single, versatile recruitment partner capable of pivoting across a wide variety of roles and functions. Rather than just filling immediate vacancies, Oliver James invested in understanding the long-term vision of the airline.
OJ stepped in to support Aer Lingus by supplying:
- Specialist Talent: Placing experts in Product Management, Process Development, Finance Transformation, Quality, Training, and Automation.
- Flexible Hiring: Providing short-term consultants, long-term contractors, and permanent employees depending on the specific project needs.
- Rigorous Pre-Screening: Ensuring every candidate was strictly matched not only to the technical requirements but also to the cultural and business expectations of the airline.
The Solution: A “Silver Bullet” Partnership
The partnership with Oliver James has transformed Aer Lingus’ recruitment process in three highly measurable ways:
- Accelerated Speed-to-Hire: By taking over the rigorous pre-screening process, Oliver James currently saves Aer Lingus 6 to 8 weeks off every single recruitment cycle.
- Immediate ROI & Conversions: Candidates arrive fully understanding the role and are able to make an impact immediately. Many of the day-rate consultants provided by OJ have been so successful that Aer Lingus has converted them into full-time employees.
- Candidate Quality & Clarity: Candidates are presented accurately and realistically, arriving with clear expectations of what working at Aer Lingus entails, leading to highly successful placements in a short space of time.
What the Client Says
“To go to somebody as experienced and as valued as Oliver James is in this space was a no-brainer for us; it was a silver bullet […] I take probably six to eight weeks off every recruitment cycle as a result of the pre-screening that Oliver James will do […] it’s the solution mindset that they come with. You know, there’s never been a day where they are not in touch with me about the roles that I’m recruiting for.” Helen van Tonder, Head of Customer Contact, Aer Lingus
