How Consumer Exec Supports PE & VC-Backed Brands
The consumer sector continues to dominate private equity and venture capital portfolios—driven by compelling brand stories, scalable digital models, and growing investor appetite for consumer-facing innovation. But behind every growth curve is a leadership team making it happen.
At Consumer Exec, we specialise in placing senior talent into PE and VC-backed consumer businesses during moments that matter: scaling, transforming, or preparing for exit. From first-time CFOs to seasoned CEOs with multiple exits under their belt, we source leaders who do more than manage—they create enterprise value.
Growth-Stage Hiring Requires More Than Credentials
Whether you’re a founder preparing to hand over the reins, a private equity house professionalising a portfolio company, or a growth investor making strategic additions to the board, leadership recruitment in high-growth environments is uniquely high-stakes.
It’s not about hiring the biggest CV. It’s about hiring the right operator: someone who can lead through ambiguity, build trust quickly, and deliver results in capital-efficient ways.
At Consumer Exec, we don’t just understand the consumer landscape—we understand the nuances of leadership in investor-backed businesses. That means knowing what makes a PE-literate CFO different, how to identify a CCO with commercial rigour and EQ, and when a CHRO is the catalyst for cultural evolution.
A Sector in Acceleration
The scale of investment in the consumer space tells its own story. In 2024, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence, deal value in the consumer sector jumped over 45% to $81.4 billion (£64.5 billion). January alone saw 136 deals completed, totalling $720 million (£57.1 million). And venture capital investment in AI-focused consumer businesses is surging—over $100 billion in AI-related funding was secured in 2024, up 80% from the year before.
For consumer brands backed by institutional capital, this translates into greater scrutiny, tighter timelines, and often, more complex board dynamics. The leadership team must navigate this environment while still delivering innovation and cultural integrity. That’s why our placements go beyond technical ability—they bring presence, resilience, and the ability to align teams behind a shared vision.
What We Deliver
We work across the UK, EMEA, and the US, placing permanent and interim leaders across all consumer verticals, including:
- FMCG & Food & Beverage
- Luxury & Lifestyle
- Beauty, Wellness & Personal Care
- DTC & Digital-First
- Retail, Leisure & Hospitality
Roles include:
- CEO / MD
- CFO / Finance Director
- COO / Chief Supply Chain Officer
- CMO / CCO / Chief Brand Officer
- CHRO / CPO
- NED / Board Appointments
Our international reach and deep sector knowledge allow us to move at pace without compromising on quality—often delivering shortlists within weeks, not months.
Interim and Fractional Support
For businesses in transition, we also offer a highly curated bench of interim and fractional leaders, including those experienced in post-deal integration, digital transformation, or turnaround scenarios.
This flexible model is particularly valuable post-investment, where early traction is essential and permanent hiring may take longer. Our interim leaders are battle-tested, commercially sharp, and available to start immediately.
Looking for Immediately Available PE/ M&A, Corporate Finance professionals
Jon Cooper, Co-Founder of Consumer Additions and Consumer Exec, is currently hiring on behalf of a PE client seeking interim M&A and corporate finance support during a particularly busy deal period.
The opportunity involves working directly on live transactions and supporting existing investments, ideal for professionals with at least four years’ experience in Transaction Services, Investment Banking, or Consumer PE/Corporate Finance.
Those immediately available are encouraged to reach out directly:
jon.cooper@consumerexec.com or 07885374722
A Strategic Talent Partner
We’re not a search firm that drops in at the eleventh hour. We act as strategic advisors to investors, founders, and senior leadership, often supporting across multiple mandates as companies evolve.
Our strength lies in deep partnership: understanding your fund strategy, value creation plan, and exit goals, and ensuring each leadership hire supports that vision.
Whether you’re building your first exec team, reshaping a brand post-acquisition, or hiring a CEO to lead through exit—we’re ready.
At Consumer Exec, we don’t just place leaders.
We help shape the future of your brand.