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Executive search

Consequential leaders for defining moments

Succession. Scale. Investor confidence. High-growth brands face high-stakes moments that demand proven leadership to move capital, culture, and the company forward.

Executive search accelerates your future

From founder handoffs to funding rounds to post-acquisition integration, secure leaders who turn high-growth pressure into value creation.

  • Founder transitions

    Founder transitions

    Moving from founder-led to future-ready

    Transitioning leadership is one of the most far-reaching decisions a founder can make. Appoint leaders who honor the brand legacy, earn investor trust, and take the company into the next chapter.

    Founder transitions
  • Succession & evolution

    Succession & evolution

    Elevating leadership for scale

    Growth plans highlight where leadership must evolve. Connect with executives who have successfully guided brands through funding rounds, scaling journeys, and the leap from promising to proven.

    Succession & evolution
  • Growth architects

    Growth architects

    Aligning structure, capital, and momentum

    Early-stage hustle creates momentum, but sustaining growth takes seasoned leadership. Presidents, COOs, and CFOs bring the experience and authority to build systems, teams, and strategies, including how to anticipate and incorporate AI, enabling brands to scale confidently.

    Growth architects
  • Market builders

    Market builders

    Expanding reach and revenue

    Channel addition. Market development. Consumer connection. Bring on market builders like CROs and CMOs who translate brand strength into repeatable revenue growth.

    Market builders
  • Board & governance

    Board & governance

    Adding credibility at the highest level

    As the stakes rise, so does the need for guidance, oversight, and perspective. Board members and advisors strengthen investor and lender trust, shape leadership decisions, and bring enterprise discipline to defining stages.

    Board & governance
Founder transitions

Moving from founder-led to future-ready

Transitioning leadership is one of the most far-reaching decisions a founder can make. Appoint leaders who honor the brand legacy, earn investor trust, and take the company into the next chapter.

Founder transitions
Succession & evolution

Elevating leadership for scale

Growth plans highlight where leadership must evolve. Connect with executives who have successfully guided brands through funding rounds, scaling journeys, and the leap from promising to proven.

Succession & evolution
Growth architects

Aligning structure, capital, and momentum

Early-stage hustle creates momentum, but sustaining growth takes seasoned leadership. Presidents, COOs, and CFOs bring the experience and authority to build systems, teams, and strategies, including how to anticipate and incorporate AI, enabling brands to scale confidently.

Growth architects
Market builders

Expanding reach and revenue

Channel addition. Market development. Consumer connection. Bring on market builders like CROs and CMOs who translate brand strength into repeatable revenue growth.

Market builders
Board & governance

Adding credibility at the highest level

As the stakes rise, so does the need for guidance, oversight, and perspective. Board members and advisors strengthen investor and lender trust, shape leadership decisions, and bring enterprise discipline to defining stages.

Board & governance
HuChocolatecasestudy
Proof in action

A CEO matched for the next chapter

When Hu Kitchen’s board chose to evolve leadership at the top, the moment carried both symbolic and strategic weight. The new CEO protected the brand’s values, elevated performance, and built the team that ultimately positioned the company for acquisition.

Executives who shape what’s next

Real-world examples of leaders placed at pivotal moments.

  • CEO

    side-tab-eleven
    CEO

    A CEO who turned a pivotal leadership transition into a strategic outcome

    Honored Hu Kitchen’s mission while driving the growth and organizational maturity that positioned the company for acquisition.

  • President & COO

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    President & COO

    A President who brought structure to scale

    Steered fast growth into focused operations, improving efficiency and strengthening Kiva’s nationwide reach.

  • CMO

    side-tab-one (1)
    CMO

    CMO who unified and revitalized marketing

    Rebuilt and aligned a global marketing team to drive growth following a complex brand integration.

  • CSO

    side-tab-fire (1)
    CSO

    A CSO who scaled digital success into retail growth

    Opened new retail channels, built a high-performing sales team, and set the foundation for her promotion to from CSO to COO.

  • CFO

    side-tab-13
    CFO

    A CFO who built the foundation for disciplined growth

    Brought the financial controls, planning discipline, and industry expertise required for Bardstown Bourbon’s next stage.

  • Board Members

    Board Members
    Board Members

    A Board Chair who unified vision and elevated governance

    Balanced family heritage with forward momentum and strengthened oversight during a pivotal stage for Nielsen-Massey.

side-tab-eleven
CEO

A CEO who turned a pivotal leadership transition into a strategic outcome

Honored Hu Kitchen’s mission while driving the growth and organizational maturity that positioned the company for acquisition.

side-tab-twelve
President & COO

A President who brought structure to scale

Steered fast growth into focused operations, improving efficiency and strengthening Kiva’s nationwide reach.

side-tab-one (1)
CMO

CMO who unified and revitalized marketing

Rebuilt and aligned a global marketing team to drive growth following a complex brand integration.

side-tab-fire (1)
CSO

A CSO who scaled digital success into retail growth

Opened new retail channels, built a high-performing sales team, and set the foundation for her promotion to from CSO to COO.

side-tab-13
CFO

A CFO who built the foundation for disciplined growth

Brought the financial controls, planning discipline, and industry expertise required for Bardstown Bourbon’s next stage.

Board Members
Board Members

A Board Chair who unified vision and elevated governance

Balanced family heritage with forward momentum and strengthened oversight during a pivotal stage for Nielsen-Massey.

Inside the executive search experience

Choosing a transformational leader is a crucial crossroads. You need a partner with the reach, judgment, and experience to deliver the right one.

Why choose ForceBrands instead of a global search firm?

We specialize exclusively in high-growth consumer brands. ForceBrands is the only search partner built for companies moving through growth gates, succession, or acquisition — whether founder-led, family-owned, or investor-backed. Our network runs deep across food, beverage, beauty, wellness, and pet, connecting you with leaders who already know what it takes to scale from early traction to exit and give investors confidence at every stage.

Do ForceBrands have credibility with top executives?

Yes. We offer a discreet, high-touch process that reflects the significance of the opportunity. Executives work with us because of our specialized reputation, proven track record in fast-rising consumer brands, and strong relationships with founders, leaders, and investors. Our network of executives and board members is exclusive to those who already understand the key growth factors, nuanced dynamics, and cultural demands of ascending companies in their sector.

How does ForceBrands handle founder or family dynamics?

We are the only search partner in our niche trusted to place executives in family-founded and founder-led brands. We have guided some of the most sensitive transitions in consumer brands, from momentous leadership shifts to investor-driven successions. Our work blends cultural alignment rigor with stage-gate expertise, ensuring legacy is respected while preparing the company for its next chapter. The common threads across engagements are empathy, discretion, and experience, striking a balance between cultural continuity and the need for growth.

What if our needs evolve mid-search?

Leadership needs often change as brands move through funding rounds, category pivots, or post-acquisition integration. We are the only firm that pairs Executive Search with Talent Advisory, giving clients structured tools — from role calibration to succession planning — to realign the mandate while keeping candidates engaged and momentum intact.

Does ForceBrands support clients beyond the single executive hire?

Yes. Executive Search often begins with one critical placement but extends into building the broader C-suite, board, and functional bench. We are the only partner delivering a truly integrated model, from executives to advisors to next-generation leaders. Through our Talent Advisory practice, we strengthen these efforts with structured frameworks for succession, org design, and long-range planning, ensuring every leadership move aligns with the company’s future.

Insights for growth-minded leaders.

Serious decisions deserve a partner who understands what's on the line

Executive Search is never just a hire. Let’s find the leaders who will drive performance, strengthen culture, and protect enterprise value.