The Opportunity
Established in 2002, Penthol is a family-owned trader and distributor of oil products and petrochemicals based in Istanbul, Turkey. The business is a trusted partner in moving products safely, securely and cost effectively, utilising close relationships with refiners and petrochemical manufacturers around the globe.

Following rapid international expansion over recent years, Penthol acquired significant storage capacity in Rotterdam and Ghent in 2022 to supply the European market with Group I and II Base Oils and Solvents. With ambitious goals for growth in the region, the CEO, Hakan Erkoc, was seeking an outstanding Commercial Lead.

Our Approach
Bramhall & Co was approached in November 2022 by the leadership team to conduct an efficient and effective retained search campaign, with the successful candidate required to start as soon as possible. The brief was clear – the Commercial Lead must be able to define and implement the market strategy based on a strong understanding of the industry dynamics, product lines and customer base.

In close collaboration with Penthol, we defined a cohesive strategy for the project, providing key insight including compensation benchmarking. We conducted a detailed and transparent research and assessment process to deliver a shortlist of 5 high calibre candidates, based in various European countries, within less than 4 weeks.

The Results
Following a thorough interview process, Penthol appointed an exceptional Commercial Lead based in Germany with over 15 years of progressive sales and marketing experience and a stellar reputation in the industry. The individual joined the team in January 2023, only 2 months after the project commenced. We look forward to seeing Penthol’s business in Europe grow from strength to strength following this appointment!