It is important to keep in mind the leadership competencies important to LSN as this report seeks to clarify the succession plan for the Middle East Sales Director, Director of Research and Development, VP of Headquarters Operations, North American Executive Director, and Director of Finance. The most critical leadership competencies to LSN are the ability in building and maintaining relationships, taking risks and innovating, solving problems and making decisions, demonstrating ethics and integrity, developing others, and developing adaptability. The succession planning committee has identified and interviewed five internal candidates for potential transition to the aforementioned positions. The candidates are Jackie Johnson, Director of Purchasing; Henrietta Higgins, Assistant Director of Purchasing; Mohammad Darvish, Marketing Manager of the Homeopathic Division; Marge Simpson, Sales Director of the Chicago Office; and Rafael Mendez, Director of Sales of New Mexico. Of the candidates, the committee recommends the following internal transfers: Marge Simpson to take the role of Sales Director in the Middle East, Mohammad Darvish to take the role of Director of Research and Development, Rafael Mendez to take the role of VP of Headquarter Operations, and Jackie Johnson to take the role of Executive Director of North America. The committee recommends that the Director of Finance be filled with an external hire. The following report will clarify the reasoning for the candidate selections, why an external candidate is recommended for the Director of Finance position, qualities sought in the search for a Director of Finance, and why any candidates were not selected.

Director of Finance: External Hire

Describe why no candidate is qualified for this position and provide qualities the LSN recruiting team should look for in an external hire.