Situation
Adidas faced a significant challenge in scaling its global technical expertise. The company needed to recruit 50 highly specialised technical experts within six months to drive innovation and maintain its competitive edge. However, the talent pool for these niche roles was exceptionally limited—fewer than 170 professionals worldwide met the stringent criteria.
Additionally, adidas faced stiff competition from other major sports brands such as Nike, Lululemon, and New Balance, all vying for the same specialised talent. Many potential candidates were also bound by restrictive non-compete clauses, adding another layer of complexity to the recruitment drive. Traditional recruitment methods were proving ineffective, and adidas required a strategic partner capable of navigating these manifold challenges, quickly.
Approach
A dedicated team of three senior recruiters was assembled, each with over a decade of experience in global technical talent acquisition.
This highly skilled team employed an innovative, multi-faceted approach:
Targeted Global Search: Using advanced sourcing techniques, the global talent ecosystem was mapped in detail, identifying and engaging top-tier candidates who were not actively seeking new roles.
Innovative Employer Branding: Leveraging unique outreach channels—including niche tech-focused platforms and a US-based radio station popular among industry experts— adidas was positioned as an employer of choice for elite technical professionals, ensuring they stood out from competitors.
Overcoming Legal & Contractual Barriers: we worked closely with adidas’s legal teams to address visa and work permit challenges for international hires.
Additionally, strategic legal guidance helped candidates navigate restrictive non-compete clauses, ensuring a smooth and swift transition into their new roles despite contractual obstacles.
Legal and Immigration Solutions: Collaborating closely with adidas’s legal team to navigate visa complexities and resolve candidates’ non-compete clauses, enabling smoother transitions and improved time to hire.
Result
The successful completion of all 50 hires within the six-month deadline, securing world-class technical talent from across multiple continents.
These specialists played a pivotal role in strengthening adidas’s technical innovation capabilities, contributing to groundbreaking product developments and reinforcing the company’s market leadership.
Through this engagement, not only were adidas’s immediate hiring goals met, but also a sustainable pipeline for future technical recruitment was established. This secured a competitive advantage against rival brands in the ongoing battle for top specialised technical talent.
Transform with Banba
Our goal is simple: to empower your organisation with top-tier AI and data science talent exactly when you need it. Trust Banba to provide solutions that drive innovation, efficiency and growth.
