AgHires Partners with Growing Food Production Company on COO Search
A fast-growing food production company needed an experienced Chief Operating Officer who could help guide the organization through its next stage of growth.
The $150M+ organization had achieved consistent double-digit growth and needed a senior leader capable of balancing strategic leadership with hands-on operational management. The COO would report directly to a Board of growers and oversee a complex packing operation.
Finding the right executive would require more than identifying someone with the right title. The company needed a leader who could improve performance, develop the team, manage major investments, and thrive in a highly operational environment.
The Hiring Challenge
The organization wanted to move quickly while maintaining a thorough executive selection process.
The ideal COO needed a combination of:
- Senior-level operational leadership and strategic planning experience
- Full P&L responsibility
- Lean processing and continuous improvement expertise
- Strong financial acumen
- Experience managing significant capital projects
- The ability to build, develop, and lead teams at every level of the organization
Just as important, this needed to be an executive who was comfortable spending time on the production floor, working alongside employees, identifying problems, and driving improvements.
Location added another challenge. The company was based in a remote area, which meant the successful candidate would likely need to relocate and be committed to the community long term.
Our Executive Search Approach
AgHires began the search by working closely with the organization and its Board to define the leadership profile, business priorities, and experience required for success in the role.
Rather than limiting the search strictly to food production executives, we evaluated industries with similar processing environments, equipment, operational complexity, and logistics.
This expanded the potential talent pool while allowing us to remain highly selective about the leadership capabilities required for the position.
Our team also concentrated outreach on executives within a reasonable geographic region. Candidates who were already familiar with the area were more likely to realistically evaluate the relocation and make a long-term commitment to the organization.
Throughout the process, AgHires worked closely with the leadership team and Board to assess candidates based on both executive capabilities and cultural fit.
The Result
The search resulted in the successful hire of an experienced food production executive located within a few hours of the organization.
The selected COO brought experience managing a full P&L within growing organizations, a strong continuous improvement mindset, and the hands-on leadership style the company was seeking.
He was equally comfortable developing strategy with the Board and working alongside employees on the production floor to identify problems and improve operations.
His combination of operational experience, leadership ability, and high-energy approach made him an excellent fit for the organization and its next stage of growth.
Executive Search for Agriculture and Food Production
Finding the right executive requires understanding more than a job description.
AgHires partners with Boards, ownership groups, and leadership teams to identify executives who align with the organization's operational needs, culture, and long-term business goals.
Our executive search team specializes in leadership roles throughout agriculture, food production, agribusiness, and related industries.
Looking for your next COO or senior operational leader? Learn more about AgHires Executive Search or schedule a conversation with our team.
