Developing a future-ready senior leadership pipeline in global energy

Client need

A leading independent oil and gas company grew fast. A $11.2 billion acquisition nearly tripled its workforce overnight, from 1,700 to 5,000 employees, and exposed a gap that couldn't wait: no clear way to identify and develop the next generation of senior leaders. With 45% of board focus dedicated to succession planning, the pressure was real. The company needed leaders who could handle complex integrations, work across cultures, and step into bigger roles with confidence.

Solution

BTS partnered with the company's board and executive team to design the Future Senior Leaders Program (FSLP) for 12 high-potential leaders. The foundation was a co-created Leadership Success Profile defining what great leadership looked like in the company's context.

• Multi-method assessments (BTS ExPI™ 360 and Hogan Insights) to surface precise behavioral insights and shape personalized development plans.
• 18 hours of executive coaching per participant, focused on strategic influence, executive presence, and leading through integration.
• A custom Leader Lab business simulation mirroring the company's real industry challenges: M&A decisions, portfolio management, cross-border leadership.

Assessment and simulation data fed into a talent heatmap shared directly with the board, turning program insights into succession decisions.

Results

The FSLP delivered across every dimension that mattered.

• 10 of 12 participants advanced to Executive or Business Unit leadership roles within 12 months
• 94% of individual development goals achieved
• One participant's pricing initiative generated an estimated $70 million in 2024 revenue, with $120 million upside
• Another resolved tax and audit disputes, mitigating $27 million in financial risk.

What began as a response to post-merger risk is now embeddedin how the company builds and advances its leadership bench.

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