From niche to global powerhouse: What brands can learn from On Running’s rise
On started with one big idea: running should feel like flying.
Fifteen years later, it’s not just runners that are buying in — it’s investors, retailers, fashion editors, and performance-obsessed consumers worldwide.
The brand has exploded.
Backed by Roger Federer, worn by athletes, styled by creatives — and now clocking nearly half a billion in quarterly sales. That’s not luck. That’s leadership, clarity of brand, and sharp execution.
It’s also exactly the kind of growth curve we help businesses plan for — and scale through.
At Consumer Exec, we work with high-growth consumer brands that want to do what On has done: take a focused product, own their category, build global momentum, and hire the kind of talent that can keep up.
You’re Growing. Now What?
Whether you’re launching in new markets, expanding your DTC channel, going omnichannel, or simply hiring your first senior team — growth creates complexity.
You need experienced people.
Not just familiar names or sector clones — but high-impact operators who understand scaling, who’ve done it before, and who can bring commercial, digital, operational, or brand firepower when and where it matters.
That’s where we come in.
How Consumer Exec Supports High-Growth Brands
We don’t just run a search. We help you build the team that can take your business into its next chapter.
Here’s what makes us different:
✅ Global Reach
We’re plugged into talent across the UK, Europe, the US, and beyond. Through our global network, EMA Partners, we can operate wherever you’re expanding.
✅ Cross-Sector Thinking
We don’t just recycle candidates from your competitors. We bring you smart, proven people from adjacent sectors who can bring fresh thinking to your brand — without the baggage.
✅ Speed + Accuracy
We move fast — and we get it right. Our shortlist process is tight, transparent, and focused on quality, not quantity.
✅ 15+ Years in Consumer Search
We know what good looks like. We’ve placed leadership teams for VC-backed scale-ups, PE portfolio brands, and multinational consumer groups alike.
✅ Deep Experience in Wellness, Sports & Lifestyle
From activewear and nutrition to personal care and performance tech — this space is in our DNA. We understand the customer, the market, and the growth cycles.
Why This Matters
Brands like On aren’t just succeeding because they have a great product.
They’re succeeding because they’ve hired exceptionally well — across brand, digital, operations, and commercial leadership.
We’ve worked with brands going through similar trajectories — and we’ve helped them make the right hires at exactly the right time.
So if you’re scaling and thinking:
- “We need someone who’s done this before”
- “Our next hire has to be a game-changer”
- “We’re outgrowing our current structure”
Talk to us. We’ll help you build the team that takes you from busy to breakthrough.
Let’s End With the Questions You Should Be Asking
If you’re hiring senior talent, here’s what you should be asking your search partner:
- Do you understand the growth dynamics of brands like ours?
- Can you introduce candidates we wouldn’t find ourselves?
- What’s your track record in wellness, lifestyle, or sports?
- How do you vet for pace, agility, and brand fit — not just CVs?
- How do you operate globally without losing local knowledge?
If they can’t answer these clearly — you’re probably wasting time.
Ready to Hire Differently?
We’re here. We get it. We’ve done it.
📩 Get in touch with Consumer Exec — and let’s start building your next chapter.
Source: https://www.businessoffashion.com/news/retail/federer-backed-on-lifts-sales-outlook-cloud-6/?utm_source=newsletter_dailydigest&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily_Digest_140525&utm_content=intro