Notogroup

What Notogroup does

Noto Group is a privately held executive search and leadership consulting firm headquartered in Portland, Oregon, with additional offices in Seattle, New York, Nashville, and London. Founded in 2008, the firm specializes in placing C-suite, VP, and Director level executives for purpose-driven consumer brands across six verticals: Athletic + Outdoor, Fashion + Lifestyle, Food + Beverage, Health + Wellness, Travel + Hospitality, and Non-Profit. Its named client base of 300+ brands includes Patagonia, Lululemon, Brooks, Burton, Salomon, Callaway Golf, Harley-Davidson, Allbirds, and Eileen Fisher, with 750+ executive roles filled over the firm's 17-year operating history.

The company delivers four integrated service lines: Executive Search, Board Recruiting, Talent Sourcing, and Leadership Consulting. Executive Search follows a four-step process (Listen & Learn, Attract & Engage, Qualify & Select, Offer & Follow Up) anchored by competency modeling, structured interviews, and 360-degree candidate summaries. The firm complements these services with the 'How I Hire' podcast, an annual Hiring & Leadership Trends Survey, and case studies as thought leadership content. Operationally, Noto Group relies on talent-insight research, job-marketing tools, sourcing networks, and limited AI tooling to support human-led candidate assessment.

Noto Group operates a retained executive search revenue model with quote-based, per-engagement pricing and multi-year client relationships; repeat business accounts for more than 50% of annual revenue, signaling high client retention within its niche. Distribution is direct and relationship-driven: enterprise clients are acquired through referrals, thought leadership content, and field outreach, with prospective clients initiating contact via the firm's website. The firm is a Certified B Corporation for 14 consecutive years and a 1% for the Planet member donating more than 1% of revenue to environmental causes, with these credentials functioning as both a screening filter for mission-aligned clients and a recruiting magnet for purpose-driven candidates.

Name

Notogroup

Legal name

Noto Group Inc.

Website

https://notogroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Noto Group is a Portland-based executive search and leadership consulting firm placing C-suite, VP, and Director level leaders for purpose-driven consumer brands across athletic, fashion, food and beverage, wellness, travel, and non-profit sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Executive Search Services: Retained executive search engagements for C-suite, VP, and Director level positions. The company reports that repeat business drives more than half of annual revenue, indicating strong client retention and recurring engagement model.
2. Board Recruiting: Recruitment services focused on sourcing seasoned advisors and board members for client companies.
3. Leadership Consulting: Ongoing support services for leaders during key moments of transition, including onboarding and team effectiveness work.
4. Talent Sourcing: Creative and flexible solutions for mid- and senior-level hiring to power up internal recruiting efforts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Noto Group is a retained executive search and leadership consulting firm that recruits C-suite, VP, and Director level leaders for purpose-driven consumer brands across athletic/outdoor, fashion/lifestyle, food and beverage, health and wellness, travel/hospitality, and non-profit sectors. The firm also provides board recruiting, talent sourcing for mid-to-senior roles, and post-hire leadership consulting for onboarding and integration support.

Product overview

Noto Group offers a unified portfolio of executive talent services centered on identifying and placing exceptional leaders for mission-driven consumer brands. The core offerings are Executive Search, Board Recruiting, Talent Sourcing, and Leadership Consulting—four integrated service lines that together address the full lifecycle of leadership hiring from initial search through onboarding support. Additionally, the company produces the 'How I Hire' podcast as a thought leadership content platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• How I Hire Podcast: A podcast hosted by Roy Notowitz covering hiring insights, leadership trends, and talent acquisition strategies.

Products and services

• Executive Search Tailored executive search for C-suite, VP, and Director roles at consumer brands, using competency modeling, structured interviews, and 360-degree candidate summaries to find visionary leaders aligned with organizational values and culture.
• Board Recruiting

Quantifiable outcome

• 750+ executive roles successfully filled across 17 years of operation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers42 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• 1% for the PlanetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNoto Group is a member of 1% for the Planet, pledging to donate more than 1% of annual revenue to environmental causes. This partnership aligns with the company's commitment to using business as a force for good and serves as a differentiator for attracting purpose-driven clients and candidates.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• DHR Global: Mid-sized global executive search firm with consumer products coverage. Comparable on retained search for senior leadership roles in consumer-facing brands, though operating at larger scale with broader industry exposure.
• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm with a sizable executive search practice covering consumer markets. Comparable on retained search for senior leadership, with adjacent consulting and RPO offerings that Noto does not match in scale.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search firm with deep coverage of consumer markets. Directly comparable in core service (retained C-suite/VP search), but operates at vastly larger scale with broader industry coverage beyond purpose-driven consumer brands.
• Egon Zehnder: Privately held global executive search firm with strong consumer and retail practices. Closely comparable on retained C-suite/board search and culture-fit emphasis, though operating at significantly larger scale across all sectors.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm serving consumer products, fashion, and lifestyle clients. Directly comparable on retained C-suite/VP search, with stronger geographic reach and broader industry exposure than Noto's boutique footprint.
• Spencer Stuart: One of the largest global retained executive search firms with strong consumer practice. Comparable in core retained search model and C-suite/board placements, but serves all major industries rather than specializing in purpose-driven brands.
• Odgers Berndtson: Global executive search firm with a strong consumer practice serving retail, apparel, and lifestyle brands. Comparable on retained C-suite search, with broader geographic coverage including the UK where Noto has just expanded.

Direct peers

• True Search: Boutique executive search firm with consumer and lifestyle practices. Closely comparable on retained search for C-suite and senior leadership in consumer brands, with similar scale and relationship-driven delivery model.
• Diversified Search: Mid-sized executive search firm with industry practices including consumer products. Comparable in scale and retained search model, and competes for similar client profiles though without Noto's purpose-driven consumer brand specialization.
• CB Partners: Boutique executive search firm focused on consumer and retail brands. Closely comparable in vertical focus and retained search model for senior leadership in athletic, outdoor, and lifestyle sectors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeopen.spotify.com/show/7HQxrWSu1iLcFxRiDTIxX4
• Facebookfacebook.com/notogroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/notogroup
• Instagraminstagram.com/notogroupsearch
• Xx.com/RoyNotowitz

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Notogroup