Berglass + Associates
Berglass + Associates is a New York-based retained executive search firm founded in 1990, specializing in C-suite and senior leadership placements for retail, consumer goods, fashion, and digital commerce companies, including private equity portfolio companies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Berglass + Associates does
Berglass + Associates is a privately held, retained executive search firm founded in 1990 by Les Berglass and headquartered at 250 Park Avenue in New York City. The firm specializes exclusively in placing C-suite and senior leadership talent within the retail, consumer goods, fashion, and digital commerce verticals, with approximately 30-40% of its business devoted to private equity portfolio company placements. Core service offerings include retained executive search across functions (digital/technology, human resources, marketing, merchandising, operations/finance, product development, sales/stores, supply chain), the proprietary Star Search Program for proactive C-level talent introductions, and specialized PE executive placement services for firms including Carlyle, Irving Place Capital, Apax Partners, Catterton Partners, CCMP Capital, and Financo.
The firm operates a boutique, sales-led go-to-market model with direct engagement of corporate boards, CEOs, and PE partners. Revenue is generated through retained search fees and success fees typical of the executive search industry. The company employs 101-250 people and is led by Les Berglass (CEO and Founder) with Matthew Berglass serving as President, representing second-generation family leadership. Berglass + Associates has built its market position through three decades of relationship cultivation, industry research partnerships (notably with Women's Wear Daily), and consistent thought leadership presence in trade publications such as WWD, Forbes, and Chain Store Age. The firm claims a global engagement footprint though its operations are US-centric, and it maintains no disclosed software platform, AI capabilities, or external institutional investment.
Berglass + Associates firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Berglass + Associates
- Legal name
- Berglass + Associates
- Website
- https://berglassassociates.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Berglass + Associates is a New York-based retained executive search firm founded in 1990, specializing in C-suite and senior leadership placements for retail, consumer goods, fashion, and digital commerce companies, including private equity portfolio companies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Berglass + Associates industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Executive Search Services
- NAICS
- Executive Search Services (561312), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Consumer & Retail Leadership Search (BPACAAAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Technology & Product Leadership Search (CIO/CTO/CDO/CPO) (BPACAAAC)
Keywords
Where Berglass + Associates is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Berglass + Associates business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Executive Search Services: The firm generates revenue through retained executive search engagements, placing C-suite and senior-level executives at consumer goods and retail companies. Revenue is earned through success fees and retainers typical of executive search firms.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Berglass + Associates product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Berglass + Associates is a retained executive search firm that places C-suite and senior leadership talent at consumer goods, retail, fashion, and digital commerce companies. The firm runs a proprietary Star Search Program for proactive talent introduction and a dedicated practice serving private equity portfolio companies, working with clients such as Neiman Marcus, Francesca's, Bath & Body Works, Victoria's Secret, and PE firms including Carlyle, Apax Partners, and Catterton Partners.
Product overview
Berglass + Associates is an executive search firm (founded in 1990) offering retained executive recruiting services for consumer goods and retail companies. The firm provides executive placement across multiple functions including C-suite, digital/technology, human resources, marketing, merchandising, operations/finance, product development/design, sales/stores, and supply chain. Their primary offerings include the Star Search Program for proactive talent introduction and specialized Private Equity executive placement services. The company does not offer a software product or platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Executive Search Services
- Star Search Program
- Private Equity Executive Placement
Quantifiable outcome
- Multiple placements where executives were elevated from initial placement to CEO or higher roles (e.g., Sean Tresvant moved from Chief Brand Officer to CEO of Taco Bell)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Berglass + Associates
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Berglass + Associates technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Berglass + Associates partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Berglass + Associates competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Spencer Stuart: One of the largest global executive search firms with a deep Consumer & Retail practice, directly competing for the same C-suite and board-level retail mandates as Berglass + Associates.
- Egon Zehnder: Global executive search firm with a dedicated Consumer Goods and Retail practice, competing for senior leadership placements at consumer brands and retailers.
- Heidrick & Struggles: Publicly listed global executive search firm with a dedicated Consumer & Retail practice, directly competing for similar board and C-suite mandates in the same vertical.
- Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with a Consumer Products and Retail practice, competing for executive placements with similar target customer profiles as Berglass.
- DHR International: Boutique executive search firm with strong practices in Consumer, Retail, and Private Equity, competing head-to-head for retail CEO and board mandates similar to Berglass.
- Diversified Search: Mid-sized executive search firm with a Consumer & Retail practice, competing for similar retained executive search mandates in the consumer goods sector.
- RSR Partners: Executive search firm led by former retailers with deep retail/consumer expertise, directly competing for the same C-suite retail executive placements.
Broad incumbents
- Korn Ferry: Largest publicly traded executive search and talent management firm, with a Consumer practice serving many of the same enterprise retail and consumer goods clients; broader portfolio but overlapping in senior executive search.
Emerging players
- Kaehler Partners: Boutique retail-specialized executive search firm with a narrower focus on retail and consumer; similar boutique positioning but smaller scale than Berglass.
Others
- Carlyle Group (Talent Network): Named PE client of Berglass for portfolio company executive placements; relationship adjacency as both a buyer of executive search services and a competitor for PE talent.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Berglass + Associates social profiles
Digital presenceBerglass + Associates financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Berglass + Associates leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Berglass + Associates funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Berglass + Associates 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 Berglass + Associates
What does Berglass + Associates do?
Berglass + Associates is a retained executive search firm that places C-suite and senior leadership talent at consumer goods, retail, fashion, and digital commerce companies. The firm runs a proprietary Star Search Program for proactive talent introduction and a dedicated practice serving private equity portfolio companies, working with clients such as Neiman Marcus, Francesca's, Bath & Body Works, Victoria's Secret, and PE firms including Carlyle, Apax Partners, and Catterton Partners.
Is Berglass + Associates a public or private company?
Berglass + Associates is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Berglass + Associates founded?
Berglass + Associates was founded in 1990. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Berglass + Associates based?
Berglass + Associates is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Berglass + Associates make money?
One revenue line is on record: executive Search Services.
Who are Berglass + Associates's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Spencer Stuart, Egon Zehnder, Heidrick & Struggles, Russell Reynolds Associates, DHR International, Diversified Search and RSR Partners. Korn Ferry is listed as a broad incumbent. Kaehler Partners is listed as an emerging player. Carlyle Group (Talent Network) is listed as an others.
Does Berglass + Associates have an API?
No public API is recorded for Berglass + Associates.
What industry is Berglass + Associates in?
Berglass + Associates's product category is Executive Search Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAAAG, Consumer & Retail Leadership Search, with a secondary code of BPACAAAC, Technology & Product Leadership Search (CIO/CTO/CDO/CPO). Its NAICS code is 561312 and its SIC code is 7361.