The document profiles key characters involved in a luxury retail company's expansion into China. Fred Westen is the CEO who wants his old friend's daughter Mimi Brewster to lead the expansion, despite her questionable past and HR VP Virginia Flanders' doubts. Mimi is well-educated in Chinese culture but acted unprofessionally in her interview. Hiring her presents risks but could boost the brand's falling image among youth in China. There are considerations on both sides, and no universally right answer from an HR perspective as it depends on the people involved.

2. Lead Character Profiles
Fred Westen - CEO, Hathway Jones
(Luxury Apparel Retailer)
Martha Westen - Wife of CEO
John Brewster - Old friend of Fred
Westen, Freelance journalist for some
US Newspapers in Shanghai
Mimi Brewster - Daughter of John
Brewster
Virginia Flanders - VP HR, Hathway
Jones; A lifer in the dept.

3. The Situation
• A luxury apparel retail brand losing its image
among the youth
• CEO’s silver lining is the expansion of the
company in China
• An excellent candidate with questionable past
proposes to lead the expansion plan
• Possible issues due to personal biases of CEO
and HR

4. Character
Traits
Mimi Brewster
● Cultural familiarity with Chinese culture
● Has majored in modern Chinese history
● Aggressively creative and passionate
● Exceptional educational and work profiles
● Boastful, Confident, Opinionated
● Unprofessional (Winking in interview)
● Risk Taker
Fred Westen
● Biased
● Low regard for HR
● Experienced
● Selective
● Headstrong
● Forgiving
Virginia
Flanders
● Lifer in the dept
● Safe Player
● Experienced
● Unbiased
● Process Oriented
● Excellent in her work
● Strict
● Does not trust easily

5. Possible Legal Suit?
Hiring Practices?
Future HJ’s Brand Image?
Opportunity Cost?
Joining a rival?
Other Candidate’s Dark Past?
CONSIDERATIONS
Save the falling Brand Image!
Hiring a Rising Star!
Twofer for Fred!
Young Talent!
Well-versed with Languages, Culture
and Fashion Trends of Target
Audience!

6. Is The
Question!

9. Alternatives
Hire Mimi for US
operations and
strategic team
for China
Hire Mimi with
apt Damage
Control Plan in
place
Do not hire her,
go for another
candidate

10. There is hardly an answer in HR
that is universal.
It’s all about people!