Jose Ruiz

What can we expect in 2010 as we continue to see signs the economy is beginning to recover and expand?  Uncertainty is gone. We’re certain it’s going to be a tough year but challenges will be different from those we encountered in 2009.
By Jose Ruiz

When 2009 began uncertainty filled the air and the economy paralyzed. It was like driving in dense fog. Trying to sort out what was around us, while we attempted to move forward with caution, hoping nothing would come out of nowhere and hit us. Swine flu did just that and it was not until June that the fog began to lift. We hit bottom, and it became evident that the recovery was going to take time and it was going to be tough.

Let’s take a broad look back at what happened from the perspective of Connie Consumer and Pete Producer. Back in 2006 Connie Consumer was flying high with a steady job, a house, retirement and investment accounts with values that were growing well beyond inflation. The Consumer family’s net worth was growing at a steady pace and they felt comfortable making major purchases. Pete Producer was doing very well struggling to keep up with demand. Pete and Producer Inc. hired more employees and made investments with an eye to the future. He needed to expand to not lose market share.

In 2008 Connie Consumer began to see her net worth slip as house prices began to drop. The foreclosure of her neighbor’s house put downward pressure on the price of her home and her investments were not performing well. The Consumer family is a responsible consumer so they began to hold back on some spending. Pete producer began to notice the Consumers where not spending as much as before and began to see his demand fizzle. Producer Inc. was already set for higher output. Pete producer made small adjustments but his inventory began to accumulate. Pete felt he had increased capacity too aggressively betting on the come and allowed his costs to get out of control. Towards the end of 2008 he had no choice and began to make cost adjustments and had to let some employees go.

By the start of 2009 Connie Consumer was facing a pay-cut and was uncertain about her own job. She could no longer count on the safety net of her home equity or her investment accounts. If she lost her job she would have a hard time making ends meet. The Consumer family hunkered down and increased their savings trying to spend only on the essentials. Pete Producer felt the pressure as his products stacked up in his warehouse. Producer Inc. had no choice and made deeper cost cuts, letting more people go and shutting down plants. Pete was in trouble. His costs were climbing and his product was not selling. Pete needed cash at a time when his bank reduced his credit line. He knew that increasing his prices would be suicide. In fact he had to provide discounts to empty his shelves. He accepted losses to guarantee cash flow.

At the end of June 2009 Connie felt a bit more secure at her job. Layoffs appeared to be over. The Consumer family was still dealing with lower pay because of the pay-cuts but they felt a bit more comfortable spending. Government programs had helped Pete reduce his inventory and Producer Inc. began to see demand come back.

So this is where we are today. Connie Consumer is cautious but spending. Pete Producer has his production lines working again. His reduced capacity is almost at its limit.

The uncertainty is gone but now comes a tricky recovery.

Pete Producer is seeing demand increase but he is very reluctant to increase capacity. His fear of loosing market share is outweighed by his fear of letting his costs get out of control. He will accept losing some customers to guarantee that he will stay afloat and profitable. Pete will grow at a very slow pace keeping a close eye on the Consumer family betting very little on the come.

Connie Consumer will probably get her full pay back by the end of the year. But her employer will be thinking along the same lines as Pete and will keep pay increases in check. In 2010 Connie will likely earn the same salary she did in 2008.

Now say hello to my little friends: inflation and loss of purchasing power.

2009 was a year characterized by the elimination of excess inventory and capacity (supply). When I talk about capacity it’s not only manufacturing capacity. Restaurants, dealerships and stores were closed, production lines were shut down. Overall, capacity to provide goods and services was reduced in reaction to a dramatic drop in demand. Prices remained mostly in check because supply outweighed demand.

Through the reminder of 2009 and 2010 demand will continue to grow at a slow pace. Supply and demand will even out and we will very likely see inflation levels above those that we saw in 2009. 

Higher inflation levels and a virtual freeze in salaries equals a loss in purchasing power adding another element to the already strong argument of a slow recovery.

2010 will be a year of recovery. But a slow and difficult recovery as Connie Consumer and Pete Producer keep an eye on each other before taking any steps, both protecting their cash and taking nothing for granted.

About Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.
The world’s premier provider of senior-level executive search and leadership consulting services. The firm’s executive recruiters and leadership experts operate from principal business centers in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific. In Mexico, Heidrick & Struggles operates offices in Mexico City and Monterrey. For more information about Heidrick & Struggles please visit www.heidrick.com

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By Jose J. Ruiz – Heidrick & Struggles

Monterrey, Mexico (August 18, 2009).- Positive signs continue to bring hope that an economic recovery, though a slow and long one, has arrived. There is an emphasis on slow and long.

The peso dropped against the dollar by 1.3 percent on Monday, the single biggest drop since May 11, before climbing back and positioning itself slightly below 13 pesos per dollar around noon today.

Concerns were awaken a few days back as Finance Secretary Agustin Carstens said Mexico faces the worst “fiscal shock” in 30 years because of declining oil production. This means there will be little money left to stimulate the economy. However, the biggest factor in Mexico’s economic recovery will continue to be consumer demand in the United States simply because Mexico sends more than 80% of its exports to the U.S.

“The United States was not only at the origin of the crisis, it is central to any world recovery,” said Olivier Blanchard, the chief economist of the International Monetary Fund.

At least for now, the positive signs in the U.S. continue.

Automotive Industry
GM has called back over 1300 union workers as the company prepares to boost production during the second half of the year. In Mexico, GM recently inaugurated a transmission plant in San Luis Potosi. This is a great sign for Mexico considering 21% of exports come from the automotive industry.

Blanchard believes the recovery has started but has cautioned it can’t be sustained by government programs such “Cash for Clunkers”. The private sector needs to be the engine of economic activity.

Demand still needs to recover and it will take years for it to reach pre-recession levels but having inventories drop enough to kick-start plants that had be shut down is a great step forward.

Housing and Construction in the United States
There are still many negative sides to the housing equation in the United States. Foreclosures will continue to be fed by many variable-rate loans that will reset between now and 2012 putting downward pressure on pricing but for the first time in many years renting is now more expensive than buying for those with a good credit rating and cash in the bank.

The amount of deals in the market has stopped the price slide in places like San Diego where the medium price of a home in July stood at $320,000, up from $316,250 in June but still below July 2008′s $364,000. Some builders like KB home expect to show year-over-year increases in sales for the current quarter.

U.S. housing starts declined by 1 per cent in July, ending a two-month winning streak but despite missing expectations, watchers viewed the housing data as a largely positive development. The drop can be attributed to apartments since construction of single-family homes rose by 1 per cent to the highest level since October 2008, for the fifth straight monthly increase.

It’s too early to pop the Champaign bottle but it appears that activity in both the construction and automotive industries may have stabilized to a degree.

Jose Ruiz is a Principal in Heidrick & Struggles’ Monterrey office. As an executive recruiter he has worked on executive search projects for multinational clients in industrial sectors and consumer markets. He can be reached at +52 (818) 8625-6521 or jruiz@heidrick.com

About Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.
The world’s premier provider of senior-level executive search and leadership consulting services. The firm’s executive recruiters and leadership experts operate from principal business centers in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific. In Mexico, Heidrick & Struggles operates offices in Mexico City and Monterrey. For more information about Heidrick & Struggles please visit www.heidrick.com

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You Corp.
Succeed by applying to your personal life and career the same principals that propel leading corporations.

by Jose Ruiz

The exact definition of business is a matter of debate.  But without getting into much detail or controversy a business is a legally recognized organization designed to provide goods and/or services to consumers.  Formed to earn profit that will increase the wealth of its stake holders and grow the business itself.
 
If you are reading this there is a high probability that you work, you are either an employee or an entrepreneur.  It really does not matter.  In the end, you do something (your product) and someone pays for it.  People who surround you or depend on you such as your wife, kids, parents are affected by how you do it and what you get. They, along with you, are stake holders. I’m pretty sure that you and your stake holders have felt the need to increase your wealth. You are a business.
 
Working in executive search I speak to many managers and directors from Fortune 500 organizations. They are masters of business strategy and execution yet, most of the time, I get a strange look if not a blank stare when I ask how they have applied those concepts to their person and how they have used those concepts to get to where they are. I truly can’t say they got there by chance. But I’m also not sure it was always something that was planned and mapped out. There are moments in time which change the course of events, alter the paths of your career and change your professional life. Some are positive and some are negative and for most of us the majority of these events are unexpected.
 
When I ask people who have had successful careers what the secret is, the most common response is “hard work and perseverance”. Check! You won’t be successful without them. But I also know many people who have worked hard, been relentless and have fallen short of their goals. There are no guarantees that you will be successful and achieve all of your goals, but I bet you can increase your chances by applying the same business concepts great corporations use. You might already work for one and apply them everyday, you just might not be applying them to yourself.
 
Identify and understand your stakeholders
People who surround you or depend on you such as your wife, kids, parents are affected by how you do it and what you get. What are their needs today and what will they be tomorrow? Your needs and those of your other stakeholders should be your big objective.
 
Know, understand and develop your product/service 
Know what makes you valuable and think about how your current job or activities will affect that value. In the end, your employer is your client. How many potential clients do you have? Be strategic. Everything you do should be part of the creation of a unique and valuable position. A good strategy may require you to make trade-offs – Your resources are limited. Choosing what not to do is just as important as choosing what to do.
 
Create and propel your personal brand
Yes, you are a brand. Distinguish yourself and make sure you never forget that perceptions matter. People remember you and what you are by what you do and what you reflect. Work on a positive brand.
 
Apply The Hedgehog Concept (Simplicity within the Three Circles)
Good-to-Great companies do what they can do best (as opposed to what they want to do best), what they are deeply passionate about, and they focus on what drives their economic engine.
 
Be effective: Plan and execute seamlessly
Know where you want to go, plan how you are going to get there and when. Be visionary. Spot trends but stay focused and constantly reassess everything.
 
Focus, document and measure relentlessly
Use a central score board and share it with your stakeholders. Goals slip when progress is not being measured…and measured against time. Set milestones at frequent intervals. When gaps occur, question what went wrong and apply corrective actions.
 
Be ruthless with resources and stay financially flexible
We live in a world of cycles. Recessions and economic crisis will happen and most likely a few times in our lifetime. Be prepared, don’t lose focus and be sustainable. Plan long term.
 
Don’t B.S. yourself
B.S. your clients or your stakeholders and it will have an impact on your personal brand. B.S. yourself and you will be on a direct path to failure. Believe your own B.S. and you are done.

Jose Ruizis a Principal in Heidrick & Struggles’ Monterrey office. As an executive recruiter he has worked on executive search projects for multinational clients in industrial sectors and consumer markets. He can be reached at +52 (818) 8625-6521 or jruiz@heidrick.com

About Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.
The world’s premier provider of senior-level executive search and leadership consulting services. The firm’s executive recruiters and leadership experts operate from principal business centers in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific. In Mexico, Heidrick & Struggles operates offices in Mexico City and Monterrey. For more information about Heidrick & Struggles please visit www.heidrick.com

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By Jose Ruiz

Monterrey,  Mexico (August 5, 2009).- I’ve said it more than a few times: A full manufacturing recovery in Mexico will be slow and very dependant on the automobile industry which makes up 20 percent of Mexico’s industrial production and it looks like we are headed in the right direction.

Factory orders in the US rose in June for the fourth time in five months, an unexpected gain and the latest sign that the ailing manufacturing sector is recovering

Cash-for-clunkers, the program in the US that gives up to $4,500 in rebates for trading in old gasoline chugging cars for newer fuel-efficient vehicles has injected new life into the automotive industry. Almost 250,000 consumers have taken advantage of the program.  This is not even close to a permanent solution, but it is certainly a life line for the automotive industry when it needs it the most. Dealerships had huge inventories going into the second half of the year when 2010 models start arriving. The program coupled with the automakers’ production cuts has slimed down inventories.

Dealers in the US have reported very slim inventories of the Jeep Patriot, Ford Focus, Fusion and Honda Civic. Some GM dealers are even reporting spot shortages of full size pick-ups.

This may not fix the overall demand issue but it has at least cleaned out the excess inventory of smaller models and given manufacturers a clean slate to plan production according to demand.

All of this is good news for Mexico’s automotive industry manufacturing facilities that supply parts and assemble small and compact vehicles.

Jose Ruiz is a Principal in Heidrick & Struggles’ Monterrey office. As an executive recruiter he has worked on executive search projects for multinational clients in industrial sectors and consumer markets. He can be reached at +52 (818) 8625-6521 or jruiz@heidrick.com

About Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.
The world’s premier provider of senior-level executive search and leadership consulting services. The firm’s executive recruiters and leadership experts operate from principal business centers in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific. In Mexico, Heidrick & Struggles operates offices in Mexico City and Monterrey. For more information about Heidrick & Struggles please visit www.heidrick.com

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By Jose Ruiz

Monterrey,  Mexico (August 3, 2009).- Overall the free fall appears to have slowed but we are still falling.  In the US the stabilization of consumer spending, unemployment benefits and the housing markets, a lessening of financial turmoil and increased government spending all suggest the longest recession since the 1930s may be close to ending.
 
In the U.S. Manufacturing shrank in July at the slowest pace in many months and factories moved closer to stabilization. In a Bloomberg News survey, The Institute for Supply Management’s factory gauge increased to 46.5, from 44.8 in June (readings less than 50 signal contraction).
 
Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan believes the worst is behind us, “collapse, I think, is now off the table…I’m pretty sure we’ve already seen the bottom… In fact, if you look at the weekly production figures for various different industries, it’s clear that we’ve turned, perhaps in the middle of last month, the middle of July.” Greenspan said.
 
U.S. Recovery will be the first step for a recovery in Mexico but other concerns are looming.  A growing deficit and falling oil output may be sleeping monsters that can put added pressure on growth, the exchange rate and an already tricky inflation scenario.

Jose Ruiz is a Principal in Heidrick & Struggles’ Monterrey office. As an executive recruiter he has worked on executive search projects for multinational clients in industrial sectors and consumer markets. He can be reached at +52 (818) 8625-6521 or jruiz@heidrick.com

About Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.
The world’s premier provider of senior-level executive search and leadership consulting services. The firm’s executive recruiters and leadership experts operate from principal business centers in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific. In Mexico, Heidrick & Struggles operates offices in Mexico City and Monterrey. For more information about Heidrick & Struggles please visit www.heidrick.com

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By Caroline Lamot

CHICAGO (January 30, 2008 ) — Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (NASDAQ: HSII). In a great story of how Heidrick & Struggles teams across borders, Terry Chuah (Menlo Park), Ignacio Perez (Mexico City) and Jose Ruiz (Monterrey) worked together to answer a client’s needs in a way that only Heidrick can.

Navman Wireless Holdings is a leading global provider of vehicle tracking and fleet management solutions. Headquartered in Chicago, the company is private equity-backed and was formerly a part of Brunswick New Technologies, a division of $5 billion Brunswick Corporation.

The company is a great client of Heidrick & Struggles – Terry completed a Chief Technology Officer search for the firm last year so when they needed a GM for their new Mexico operations to be headquartered in Monterrey, Heidrick & Struggles was the obvious choice. In a fortuitous confluence of the interests, Heidrick & Struggles is setting up an office in Monterrey and could offer real and local market expertise.

“This is a great example of why Heidrick & Struggles works so well on a global basis,” said Jose Ruiz, the lead consultant on the search and a principal in the Monterrey office. “Our unique ability to combine the strong existing US-based relationships with regional market knowledge and expertise is key.”

About Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.
Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. is the world’s premier provider of senior-level executive search and leadership consulting services, including talent management, board building, executive on-boarding and M&A effectiveness. For more than 50 years, we have focused on quality service and built strong leadership teams through our relationships with clients and individuals worldwide. Today, Heidrick & Struggles leadership experts operate from principal business centers in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific. For more information about Heidrick & Struggles, please visit www.heidrick.com.

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CHICAGO (January 29, 2008 ) — Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. (NASDAQ: HSII), the world’s premier executive search and leadership consulting firm, today announced that Jose Ruiz has joined the firm’s Monterrey office as a Principal in the Industrial Practice, with the additional responsibility to continues the firm’s expansion to the Northern Mexico.

“With a robust experience in engineering and operations management working for manufacturing organizations in the US and Mexico within the aerospace, automotive, medical device and other industrial sectors, Jose will be instrumental to our growth strategy in the country and regionally”, said Manoel Rebello, Regional Managing Partner, Latin America. “We are pleased to welcome Jose to Heidrick & Struggles.”

Jose joins Heidrick & Struggles from a boutique executive search firm based in San Diego, CA, where he was the Managing Partner. Previous experience includes serving as VP and General Manager at Holley Performance Products. Prior to that, Jose held positions in organizational development, human resource, quality management, project management and equipment design with Frisa Forjados in Monterrey, NL and Energy Labs Inc. in San Diego, CA. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME).

Jose holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering from the Instituto Technologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey. He is fluent in English and Spanish.

About Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc.
Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. is the world’s premier provider of senior-level executive search and leadership consulting services, including talent management, board building, executive on-boarding and M&A effectiveness. For more than 50 years, we have focused on quality service and built strong leadership teams through our relationships with clients and individuals worldwide. Today, Heidrick & Struggles leadership experts operate from principal business centers in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific. For more information about Heidrick & Struggles, please visit www.heidrick.com.

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Contact
Paula Barifouse at +55 11 5504 4058 or pbarifouse@heidrick.com

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Monterrey, just a few miles south of the  US border, is one of the three most important cities in Mexico and a modern industrial and business center.  The Heidrick & Struggles’ office in Monterrey has differentiated itself by understanding the unique cultural and business environment of Northern Mexico and the border region bringing senior level talent with proven success in a multicultural and business environment.

We serve client organizations in every industry, identifying executive leadership talent for senior management positions and boards of directors. Our consultants specialize in one or more of the following specialty areas: Board of Directors, Consumer, Financial Services, Health Care, Higher Education/Nonprofit, lndustrial, Technology, and Professional Services.

We are dedicated to building long standing relationships with our clients by providing the highest standard of service and placing our clients’ needs first.

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We are delighted to announce that Heidrick & Struggles, the world’s premier executive search firm  specialized in chief executive, board member and senior-level management search assignments continues its expansion in Mexico with a new office in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon.

Jose Ruiz has joined the firm as a Principal in our Global Industrial Practice to launch the office.

His professional experience includes over 13 years in engineering and operations management working for manufacturing organizations in the United States and Mexico within the aerospace, automotive, medical device and other industrial sectors. Prior to joining Heidrick & Struggles, Jose was a Managing Partner for a boutique executive search firm based in San Diego, CA.

Jose holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering from the Instituto Technologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey. He is fluent in English and Spanish.

We would welcome the opportunity to introduce Jose and other key members of our team to you, in order to discuss our perspective and experience on the most pressing talent challenges.

Ignacio Perez  
Partner-In-Charge Mexico  

Darcio  Crespi
Latin America Managing Partner, Industrial Practice

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Conducting an executive search for your organization’s board member, chief executive or senior-level management positions in Mexico is a responsibility that should not be taken lightly. Heidrick & Struggles, the world’s premier provider of executive search services, offers exceptional expertise and insight.

Heidrick & Struggles has five decades of leadership experience working with defense, aerospace, and aviation companies of all sizes to recruit CEOs, COOs, vice presidents, operating unit and field organization leaders and a wide range of other senior executives, as well as non-executive board directors.

We count as our major clients many of the leading prime contractors who provide military and commercial aerospace products, both at the system and subsystem level. In addition, we have conducted dozens of highly successful searches for the leading IT consulting, hardware and services companies for whom the defense market is central. As leading private equity investors have acquired companies in this sector, we have worked with them to recruit CEOs and key members of their new management teams.

In the worldwide airline, air transport and related markets, our clients have included major U.S.-based carriers and a host of regional and new market entry carriers, as well as key international carriers in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. We have worked closely with the world’s leading electronics, structures and specialized component providers to the airframe OEMs, including client companies in the United States, Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific.

Over the years, Heidrick & Struggles has served a variety of government agencies and offices, providing direct assistance in staffing key leadership positions and in the selection of candidates to fill top-level appointments. In parallel, and in a sustained effort that strongly supports our Aerospace, Defense and Aviation Practice, Heidrick & Struggles has worked for defense and aerospace trade associations, federally funded research & development corporations (FFRDCs), national laboratories and independent labs, as well as many defense and intelligence departments and agencies.

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