Consumer Practice: 2024 Year in Review

Charles Southwick

Senior Vice President & Principal

Below are select search highlights from 2024.
 
 

Chief Financial Officer for a Private Equity-Backed Consumer Products Company

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO), reporting to the CEO and serving on the Executive Committee, will play a key role in shaping and supporting the company’s strategies, growth, and operations. As a trusted business partner to the CEO, the CFO will contribute a P&L-focused perspective while overseeing all financial functions, including planning, analysis, treasury, budgeting, audit, tax, and accounting. The role involves fostering relationships with shareholders and lenders, ensuring regulatory compliance, and providing accurate financial data to guide decision-making across the organization. This opportunity suits an experienced, energetic leader who thrives in a collaborative and dynamic environment.

Chief Human Resources Officer for a $3B Consumer Company

The Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) leads the development and execution of human capital strategies to support business growth, enhance organizational effectiveness, and foster an inclusive, high-performance culture. This role oversees HR functions for a large, geographically dispersed workforce and focuses on talent management, leadership development, and performance accountability. The CHRO will partner closely with the CEO, Board, and senior leadership to implement innovative HR strategies, drive cultural and organizational change, and ensure the business has the leadership and capabilities needed to achieve its strategic goals. This position requires significant presence across multiple company locations, delivering impactful HR solutions aligned with the company’s vision and values.

Chief Supply Chain Officer for a Private Equity-Backed Food & Beverage Manufacturer

 
The Chief Supply Chain Officer (CSCO), reporting directly to the CEO and serving as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, will lead the strategic direction and operational execution of sourcing, procurement, planning, logistics, and supply chain management across the organization. This high-level role involves driving cost efficiency, optimizing network-wide supply chain performance, and implementing scalable processes to support growth and profitability in a competitive and evolving industry. The CSCO will oversee a diverse team, including leaders in procurement, supply chain operations, and transportation, while fostering collaboration across departments such as sales and manufacturing to ensure alignment with strategic goals. Additionally, this position emphasizes continuous improvement through the adoption of innovative sourcing strategies, enhanced S&OP processes, and advanced technologies to maximize operational efficiency and service levels. The CSCO will play a pivotal role in shaping the company’s long-term growth agenda, maintaining a high-performance culture, and delivering sustainable business results.

Chief Sales Officer for a Global Nutrition & Food Ingredients Company

 
The Chief Sales Officer (CSO) will lead the strategic direction and execution of the company’s global sales initiatives, driving revenue growth, market expansion, and customer engagement. Reporting to the executive leadership team, this role will oversee all aspects of sales strategy, key account management, and channel development, ensuring alignment with the company’s business objectives. The CSO will build and lead a high-performing sales organization, foster strong relationships with key partners, and identify opportunities to optimize performance across markets. This leader will play a pivotal role in delivering sustainable growth, enhancing customer satisfaction, and positioning the company for long-term success in a competitive industry.

Chief Operating Officer for a Leading Food Producer & Distributor

 
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) serves as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, plays a critical role in driving the company’s growth strategy and operational excellence. With P&L accountability across the business, including oversight of joint ventures, the COO leads a senior leadership team to deliver profitable growth and expand market share in core geographies and new markets. The role involves aligning with the CEO on strategic priorities, implementing processes to achieve business objectives, and fostering global alignment within the vertically integrated business. By combining deep operational expertise with strategic vision, the COO strengthens the company’s position in the global food industry while honoring its entrepreneurial culture and legacy.

Chief Commercial Officer for a Private Equity-Backed Pet Food Manufacturer

 
The Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) leads the development and execution of strategic plans to drive growth in net sales, margins, and EBITDA. Overseeing sales, marketing, business development, and R&D, the CCO establishes clear, measurable processes to deliver results and expand the company’s presence across private label, co-manufacturing, branded, and D2C channels. This customer-facing role involves nurturing existing partnerships while building new relationships across retail, eCommerce, and club channels. The CCO collaborates with the leadership team to innovate product offerings, analyze market trends, and create go-to-market strategies that align with consumer demands. Additionally, this role fosters a mission-driven, customer-focused culture, ensuring organizational agility and scaling the business for sustainable growth.

Chief Marketing Officer for a Private Equity-Backed Consumer Products Company

 
The Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), a key member of the Executive Management team, leads the development and execution of the company’s marketing strategy to drive growth, innovation, and customer engagement. Reporting to the CEO, the CMO oversees brand strategy, consumer insights, product innovation, advertising, and digital marketing, ensuring alignment with the company’s overall vision. This role focuses on leveraging data-driven insights to identify market opportunities, optimize omnichannel strategies, and enhance marketing operations. Additionally, the CMO builds a high-performing, consumer-centric marketing organization while collaborating across functions to achieve business objectives and deliver sustained brand and revenue growth.

Senior Vice President, Sourcing for a Consumer Goods Company

 
The Senior Vice President, Sourcing will play a critical leadership role in overseeing the company’s sourcing strategy, procurement operations, and supplier relationships. Reporting to the executive leadership team, this role will focus on driving cost efficiencies, ensuring supply chain reliability, and enhancing product quality across a dynamic and growing organization. They will develop and implement scalable sourcing strategies, optimize vendor performance, and build processes to support the company’s growth objectives. This leader will collaborate cross-functionally to align sourcing initiatives with business goals, maintain operational excellence, and deliver sustainable value in a competitive marketplace.

Regional General Manager P&L for a Leading Distribution Company

 
The Regional General Manager will oversee full P&L responsibility for the region, driving operational excellence, revenue growth, and profitability across all business functions. Reporting to executive leadership, this role will lead regional teams in sales, operations, and customer service to ensure alignment with company goals and strategic initiatives. The Regional General Manager will focus on optimizing performance, enhancing customer satisfaction, and managing resources effectively to deliver measurable results. This leader will cultivate a high-performance culture, streamline processes, and drive continuous improvement to position the region for sustained growth and success.