Food & Beverage Executive Search

Reimagined.

About us

Harper Search is a specialist executive search firm dedicated to the food and beverage industry. We partner with private equity firms, food manufacturers, and retailers to connect them with transformative leadership talent.

Our expertise spans:

  • Permanent executive leaders – current and emerging talent

  • Non-Executive Directors (NEDs)

  • Fractional professionals

  • Interim executives

With a deep understanding of the industry and a commitment to delivering exceptional results, we help businesses thrive by placing leaders who drive growth and add measurable value.

Key Services

  • We identify and place senior executives who drive long-term success within the food and beverage industry. From CEOs to functional leaders, we work with current and emerging talent who combine strategic expertise with a deep understanding of industry challenges.

    Roles we cover include:

    • C-Suite Executives (CEO, CFO, COO)

    • Functional Heads (Sales, Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain)

    • Emerging Leaders poised for senior leadership roles

  • Our network includes experienced NEDs who bring independent oversight, governance, and strategic insight to leadership teams. We match businesses with NEDs who have extensive board-level experience in the food sector and private equity-backed businesses.

    How we help:

    • Aligning NEDs with your growth strategy

    • Enhancing governance for better decision-making

    • Providing food industry expertise and connection

  • For businesses requiring senior-level expertise without a full-time commitment, we offer fractional leadership solutions. Fractional professionals deliver high-value leadership on a part-time or project basis, helping you access proven talent at a fraction of the cost.

    Typical roles include:

    • Fractional Commercial Directors

    • Supply Chain and Operations Leaders

    • Strategic Advisors for growth and transformation

  • When you need immediate leadership to manage change, deliver critical projects, or bridge a leadership gap, we provide interim executives who hit the ground running. With expertise in the food and beverage sector, our interim leaders deliver results under pressure and add measurable value quickly.

    Key scenarios we support:

    • Leadership gaps during transitions

    • Turnaround and transformation projects

    • Post-acquisition integration and scaling

Why Choose Us?

Our deep understanding of the food and beverage industry allows us to connect executive leadership talent with organisations that need it—whether on a permanent, fractional, or interim basis.

Over the last 20 years, we’ve built an exclusive network of world-class food industry leaders, ready to drive growth, transformation, and measurable results.

We bring an innovative and modern approach to executive search, giving your business a competitive edge in attracting top-tier leadership.

Every search is bespoke and personal. We take the time to truly understand your business, your challenges, and the outcomes you need to achieve.

How we work

Discovery.

We start with a deep-dive discovery phase to understand your business, its culture, and the leadership challenges you face. Through detailed conversations, we gain clarity on your objectives, team dynamics, and the outcomes you need to achieve. This step ensures our search is tailored to your specific requirements.

Research.

Leveraging our 20 years of expertise in the food and beverage industry, we tap into our extensive network of world-class leadership talent. We also conduct comprehensive market mapping and targeted research to identify candidates who align with your needs—those who can deliver immediate and long-term impact.

Assessment.

We rigorously assess shortlisted candidates through in-depth interviews and competency-based evaluations. Our process includes analysing experience, cultural fit, and leadership style to ensure the candidates match your organisation’s vision and values. When needed, we use psychometric testing and external referencing to validate our recommendations.

Placement.

Once the right leader has been identified, we manage the placement process seamlessly. From offer negotiation to onboarding support, we ensure a smooth transition, setting both the candidate and your organisation up for success. Post-placement, we stay engaged to ensure expectations are met and measurable results are achieved.

Get in Touch.

To find out more on Harper Search and the services that we provide please get in touch.

tom@harpersearch.com
UK: +44 7951 488 912
US: +1 (312) 248 7952

61 Shaftesbury Avenue
London
W1D 6LQ