Chief Executive Officer (CPG Middle Market PE)

EXECUTIVE SEARCH ANNOUNCEMENT

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

We're currently conducting a CEO searches in addition to represent multiple middle market private equity firms that own and are acquiring fast groing middle market CPG companies and currently have three searches under way with best-in-class CPG manufacturer. Promoting cross-functional collaboration, customer communication & excellence in service, flexibility & adaptability, and an aggressive organic and inorganic growth plan, we seek a Chief Executive Officer to provide strategic and execution leadership of the value creation plan. 

The portfolio company has a strong track record of profitability and superior quality and customer retention. The Chief Executive Officer is will lead the organization toward continued success and a X+ growth objective in the next five years through the combined inorganic and organic growth initiatives.

Performance Profile

TITLE: Chief Executive Officer (JH20620)

 REPORTS TO: Managing Director/Board of Directors

LOCATION:     California

The Chief Executive Officer Provide strategic direction for the development of overall business thesis, innovation, business development and operations to ensure creative and thematic consistency across all targeted segments of the market.

Anticipate innovation and future direction of the market utilizing external and internal resources and brings the company into the forefront of that trajectory.

Will effectively assess, continuously evaluate, plan and execute against the company’s aggressive growth objectives across the multi-site food/beverage manufacturer. He/she is expected to ensure the overall effectiveness and growth of the company’s existing customer base, and expanding the company’s sales through new customers and leveraging innovation pipelines.

CEO will be accountable for all elements of the value creation plan including growing with the company existing customer base and continuing to introduce new and innovative products to the marketplace.

Will be responsible for protecting and employing assets to achieve set targets and creating a culture that embraces empowerment and teamwork while significantly growing revenue (organically and inorganically) and EBITDA through the development and achievement of short and long-term business plans, ensuring financial alignment and results with overall corporate objectives.

Key responsibilities related to revenue generation include: identifying opportunities for growth and removing barriers to growth; interfacing with existing customers to help them grow and identifying new customers to enable rapid growth.

Will maintain, enhance and further develop the company leadership and company workforce.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensure aggressive growth and profitable sales, financial, and operational performance in concert with the corporate mission, strategic plan, and business plan.
• Establish key metrics to monitor performance for team and corporate management.
• Meet regularly with the Board to discuss planned versus actual growth, profitability, employee productivity and moral, and other relevant issues.
• Manage and optimize operational performance related to service delivery, efficient operations and other programs to enhance profitability.
• Assume functional responsibility for the selection, development, evaluation, compensation, and retention of all team members and direct reports.
• Build and maintain relationships that guide, motivate and reinforce positive performance of all company team members toward goal accomplishments.
• Seek and provide performance feedback and coaching and develop self and others to improve capabilities in current role to prepare for future roles. 
• Lead by example that demonstrates the core values of company.
• Deliver high-quality service to customers.

Fiscal Responsibility:

• Full P&L responsibility. 

Ideal Experience:

Required:         CEO and/or General Management from tangential food manufacturer. Must have demonstrated experience driving exponential growth and revenue generation in a rapid growth and lean environment. Must have experience driving innovation and fueling revenue generation. Must have intimate familiarity with innovative new product development, commercial food markets and end to end supply chain. Must have clearly demonstrated track record of driving value creation and owning the full P&L.

Preferred:        Private Equity experience and demonstrated ability to create a robust commercial and operations organization.

Performance Fit:

·       Success as an operating executive who owned, lived and breathed full P&L, and lost sleep over both ends (top line and costs), managed a balance sheet, treasury, full business picture including top to top customer engagement.

• 10 + years executive/senior management leadership with knowledge/experience in food/beverage industry. (contract manufacturing and/or private label experience a plus)
• Outstanding leadership and team building skills with proven results in sales and operation required.
• Knowledge of and ability to gather, interpret and apply food/beverage industry insights and trends.
• The ability to develop initiatives and project plans, allocate resources, identify potential issues/risks and develop contingency plans.
• Ability to convert general business data and findings into applied, specific information and suggestions that add value to business planning.
• Ability to efficiently interact with board members. Executive gravitas and presence.
  

Cultural Fit

Ø  Ability to work in a fast-paced, hard-driving culture with a lean structure, demonstrated ability to succeed in and to drive a culture of performance.

Ø  Must have an Entrepreneurial mindset.

Leadership Fit

Ø  Ability to operate with confidence, conviction, and command skills to effectively engage with, challenge, and work with business leadership and customers.

Ø  Must be accomplished, committed to and passionate about people and talent development.

Ø  Must be a team player to effectively manage people throughout the organization.

Ø  Interpersonal communication skills are critical to provide leadership, influence and motivation with multiple stakeholders.

Ø  High EQ, listening skills and authenticity.

Technical Fit

Ø  Experience with significant new business and customer growth.

Ø  Record of systematic and analytical approaches toward situation analysis evaluation and the development of specific programs that maintain a perspective on long-term goals while attaining short-term objectives.

Ø  Full P&L experience.

Ø  Exponential business growth and transformation accomplishments.

Ø  Experience with M&A preferred.

Ø  Experience with Private Equity preferred.

Ø  Demonstrated analytical, problem solving and negotiation skills.

Ø  Strong strategic thinking and planning skills.

Ø  Relevant education, advanced degree preferred.

Critical Personal Characteristics

Ø  The ability to handle multiple priorities; addressing present concerns while keeping an eye on future opportunities will be critical to this executive’s success.

Ø  Proven ability to quickly establish significant credibility, trust and support within all levels of the organization.

Ø  Ability to generate penetrating business insights, link them to the companies selling proposition and drive strong overall results.

Ø  Execute for results by creating a sense of urgency and makes rapid course changes when needed with a strategic mindset.

Ø  Demonstrate strategic agility and business acumen through an ability to develop and implement a business plan, driving strategies and ideas from a keen understanding of customer and operational needs while providing concise direction to the organization to develop and implement profitable solutions.

Ø  High energy and endurance with enough sensibility and sensitivity to carefully convince the organization and create momentum.

Ø  Strong change leader and organization builder with a proven ability to build trust, listen, reflect and create understanding and acceptance throughout the company.

Ø  Brings outstanding influencing skills, the ability to execute plans, is creative and innovative and has the stature and business savvy to be accepted and can create a followership among executives and other key stakeholders across the organization and with customers.

Ø  Excellent oral and written communication skills, as well as customer service and presentation abilities.

Ø  Accomplished, committed to and passionate about people and talent development.

Ø  Strong Accountability, Collaboration, Communication and Execution skills

Key Competencies Required