E.A. Hughes & Co.
E.A. Hughes & Co. is a New York-based retained executive search firm founded in 1991 that places C-suite and board leaders for retail, apparel, beauty, e-commerce, and consumer-goods enterprises. Operating as a division of Solomon Page, it runs a relationship-driven boutique practice with offices in NYC and Los Angeles.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1991
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What E.A. Hughes & Co. does
E.A. Hughes & Co. is a New York-based retained executive search firm founded in 1991 by Elaine Hughes that specializes exclusively in placing C-suite executives, board members, and senior leaders for retail and consumer-driven businesses. The firm operates as a specialized division of Solomon Page, a broader professional recruiting and search firm, and focuses on consumer verticals including apparel, home furnishings, beauty, digital, e-commerce, footwear, watches, and luxury. E.A. Hughes applies a proprietary "Evaluation Framework for Success" methodology intended to assess candidates beyond their resume, and its brand emphasizes deep industry roots, with team members embedded in the consumer and retail communities as long-standing participants rather than external generalists.
The firm maintains two US offices — headquarters at 260 Madison Avenue in New York City and a Los Angeles office led by Vice President Bob Marchant (joined November 2017) — and serves a client base of enterprise retailers, brands, and consumer-focused private equity sponsors. Visible named engagements span JCPenney, American Eagle Outfitters, Marquee Brands, Citizen Watch America, Gap, LVMH, Michael Kors, Brooks Brothers, Burlington Coat Factory, Deckers, and others. Revenue is generated through retained search fees structured as a percentage of placed executive compensation, billed in installments against search milestones; pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The firm does not offer technology products, AI tooling, or any software/SaaS revenue stream, operating purely as a relationship-driven professional services boutique with 1-10 employees. Recognitions include Forbes' Best Executive Recruiting Firms list in 2018 (ranked #11) and 2020, plus HSZ Media's Power 60 for Retained Search in 2015.
E.A. Hughes & Co. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- E.A. Hughes & Co.
- Legal name
- E.A. Hughes & Co.
- Website
- https://eahughes.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1991
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- E.A. Hughes & Co. is a New York-based retained executive search firm founded in 1991 that places C-suite and board leaders for retail, apparel, beauty, e-commerce, and consumer-goods enterprises. Operating as a division of Solomon Page, it runs a relationship-driven boutique practice with offices in NYC and Los Angeles.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
E.A. Hughes & Co. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Executive Search Services
- NAICS
- Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Consumer & Retail Leadership Search (BPACAAAG)
Keywords
Where E.A. Hughes & Co. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
E.A. Hughes & Co. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Retained Executive Search Services: The firm provides retained executive search services to retail and consumer companies, placing senior executives including CEOs, CFOs, Chief Merchandising Officers, Chief Digital Officers, and board members. Revenue is generated through retained search fees, typically billed as a percentage of the placed executive's compensation.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
E.A. Hughes & Co. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
E.A. Hughes & Co. is a retained executive search firm specializing in retail and consumer-driven industries. The firm places senior executives including CEOs, CFOs, Chief Merchandising Officers, Chief Digital Officers, and board members for consumer-driven businesses across apparel, home furnishings, beauty, digital, e-commerce, and footwear sectors. Services are delivered via a high-touch, consultative approach using the firm's proprietary Evaluation Framework for Success methodology.
Product overview
E.A. Hughes & Co. is a retained executive search firm and division of Solomon Page that provides specialized executive recruitment services for consumer-driven businesses. The firm offers a single core service: executive search for C-suite and senior leadership positions across the retail and consumer industries. The company uses its proprietary Evaluation Framework for Success methodology to identify and assess candidates. Services include retained executive search, CEO/CFO succession planning, and senior leadership placements across merchandising, digital, marketing, supply chain, and other functional areas.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Executive Search Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Successfully placed Neil Fiske as CEO at Marquee Brands LLC
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use E.A. Hughes & Co.
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
E.A. Hughes & Co. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
E.A. Hughes & Co. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Solomon PagecoreE.A. Hughes & Co. is a division of Solomon Page, a professional recruiting and search firm. This parent company relationship provides operational support and shared resources while allowing E.A. Hughes to maintain its specialized focus on retail and consumer executive search.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
E.A. Hughes & Co. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- DHR International: DHR International (now part of DHR Global) is an executive search firm with a strong consumer and retail practice. Directly comparable to E.A. Hughes in placing senior retail executives and is the prior employer of E.A. Hughes' LA office head Bob Marchant.
- Kirk Palmer & Associates: Kirk Palmer & Associates is a New York-based boutique retained executive search firm focused on retail, fashion, beauty, and consumer products. It is the closest direct competitor to E.A. Hughes in terms of vertical specialization, boutique scale, and retained C-suite search model.
- Howard Fischer Associates: Howard Fischer Associates is a boutique executive search firm focused on retail, fashion, and consumer products. Closely mirrors E.A. Hughes' vertical specialization, boutique scale, and C-suite/board-level retained search focus.
- Raines International: Raines International is a boutique executive search firm with a strong consumer and retail practice, placing senior executives for fashion, beauty, retail, and consumer goods companies. Directly comparable to E.A. Hughes in client base and retained-search delivery.
Broad incumbents
- Korn Ferry: Korn Ferry is one of the world's largest executive search and organizational consulting firms with a strong consumer and retail practice. Competitor for C-suite retail mandates and the prior employer of E.A. Hughes' LA office leader Bob Marchant, indicating direct overlap in retail talent networks.
- Egon Zehnder: Egon Zehnder is a global executive search and leadership advisory firm serving consumer and retail clients among other industries. Comparable to E.A. Hughes in placing C-suite leaders and board directors, though at materially larger scale and with broader sector coverage.
- Odgers Berndtson: Odgers Berndtson is an international executive search firm with a Consumer practice serving retail, fashion, and lifestyle brands. Comparable to E.A. Hughes in retail C-suite mandates but with a substantially broader geographic footprint across the US, UK, and other markets.
- Heidrick & Struggles: Heidrick & Struggles is a global executive search and leadership advisory firm with a dedicated Consumer & Retail practice. Competes with E.A. Hughes for senior executive placements at apparel, beauty, footwear, and home furnishings companies.
- Spencer Stuart: Spencer Stuart is a leading global executive search and leadership advisory firm with a dedicated consumer practice. Comparable to E.A. Hughes on the consumer/retail CEO and board search work it executes, but operates at significantly larger scale and competes for the same Fortune 1000 retail mandates.
Emerging players
- Frederickson Partners: Frederickson Partners is a retained executive search firm focused on digital, technology, and consumer-facing roles including Chief Digital Officers. Partial overlap with E.A. Hughes' CDO placement work (e.g., Barbara Garces at Citizen Watch), but its primary focus is technology leadership.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
E.A. Hughes & Co. social profiles
Digital presenceE.A. Hughes & Co. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
E.A. Hughes & Co. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
E.A. Hughes & Co. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
E.A. Hughes & Co. M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about E.A. Hughes & Co.
What does E.A. Hughes & Co. do?
E.A. Hughes & Co. is a retained executive search firm specializing in retail and consumer-driven industries. The firm places senior executives including CEOs, CFOs, Chief Merchandising Officers, Chief Digital Officers, and board members for consumer-driven businesses across apparel, home furnishings, beauty, digital, e-commerce, and footwear sectors. Services are delivered via a high-touch, consultative approach using the firm's proprietary Evaluation Framework for Success methodology.
Is E.A. Hughes & Co. a public or private company?
E.A. Hughes & Co. is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was E.A. Hughes & Co. founded?
E.A. Hughes & Co. was founded in 1991. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is E.A. Hughes & Co. based?
E.A. Hughes & Co. is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does E.A. Hughes & Co. make money?
One revenue line is on record: retained Executive Search Services.
Who are E.A. Hughes & Co.'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are DHR International, Kirk Palmer & Associates, Howard Fischer Associates and Raines International. Broad incumbents are Korn Ferry, Egon Zehnder, Odgers Berndtson, Heidrick & Struggles and Spencer Stuart. Frederickson Partners is listed as an emerging player.
Does E.A. Hughes & Co. have an API?
No public API is recorded for E.A. Hughes & Co..
What industry is E.A. Hughes & Co. in?
E.A. Hughes & Co.'s product category is Executive Search Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAAAA, C-Suite & Board Search, with a secondary code of BPACAAAG, Consumer & Retail Leadership Search. Its NAICS code is 56131 and its SIC code is 8742.