CB & Associates
CB & Associates is a founder-owned boutique executive search firm specializing in C-suite, VP, and director-level placements for manufacturing, distribution, and supply chain companies, operating on a senior-led, high-touch engagement model from its South Bay, Los Angeles base.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersRedondo Beach, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CB & Associates does
CB & Associates is a privately held, founder-owned boutique executive search firm established in 1999 and headquartered in the South Bay area of Los Angeles, California. The firm specializes exclusively in executive, VP-level, and critical director-level searches for companies in the manufacturing, distribution, and supply chain sectors, with related coverage of packaging, containers, apparel, footwear, tactical products, CPG, automotive, aerospace, and logistics. Service delivery is explicitly senior-led: founder and CEO Cindy Belicka is personally involved in engagements from search strategy through final hire, and the firm operates on a high-touch, consultative model rather than a transactional one. The firm supports both retained engagements, with milestone-based fees tied to search initiation, candidate presentation, and hire, and non-retained or contingency engagements based on role urgency and business stakes.
The firm's technology footprint is intentionally lean. Its core proprietary system is CatOne, a candidate tracking application used to manage job postings and candidate applications, supplemented by a website infrastructure and direct communication protocols. There is no disclosed platform modularity, marketplace, or channel partner architecture; clients are acquired through referrals, industry reputation, PIHRA community involvement, content marketing (blog, twice-monthly newsletter, LinkedIn), and senior-led outreach. Named enterprise and mid-market clients include W.W. Grainger, Contessa, and National Stores, with multiple testimonials referencing 8–12+ year ongoing relationships.
The business is a single unified professional services offering rather than a multi-product platform. Beyond the core retained and executive search services, the firm has added a Strategic Leadership Advisory component that helps clients define leadership gaps and shape search strategy before approaching the market. Revenue is generated purely through executive search fees, with no disclosed pricing, ARR, or recurring revenue mechanics. Geographic operations are concentrated in Southern California, with the founder's prior regional experience spanning the Pacific Northwest and Arizona; the firm has no disclosed institutional backing, parent company, or funding rounds.
CB & Associates firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CB & Associates
- Legal name
- CB & Associates
- Website
- https://cbrecruiters.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- CB & Associates is a founder-owned boutique executive search firm specializing in C-suite, VP, and director-level placements for manufacturing, distribution, and supply chain companies, operating on a senior-led, high-touch engagement model from its South Bay, Los Angeles base.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CB & Associates industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Executive Search Services
- NAICS
- Executive Search Services (561312), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131)
- akta.pro primary industry
- C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA)
Keywords
Where CB & Associates is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Redondo Beach
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
CB & Associates business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Executive Search Fees: CB & Associates generates revenue through retained and contingency executive search fees charged to manufacturing, distribution, and supply chain clients for filling senior-level, VP-level, and C-suite leadership roles. The firm offers both retained search and standard executive search engagements depending on role urgency and business stakes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Retained Executive Search |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Standard Executive Search |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
CB & Associates product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CB & Associates is a boutique executive search firm that provides high-touch, senior-led retained and contingency searches for C-suite, VP-level, and director-level leadership roles. The firm specializes exclusively in manufacturing, distribution, and supply chain sectors, helping clients define leadership gaps, shape search strategy, and place executives who can strengthen execution and support long-term growth.
Product overview
CB & Associates operates as a single unified executive search service offering, not a platform-plus-modules architecture. The firm provides high-touch, senior-led retained and executive search services specializing in manufacturing, distribution, and supply chain sectors. Their core offering encompasses C-suite, VP-level, and critical director-level searches across functions including sales, operations, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and general management. The service is delivered through a dedicated, consultative approach where senior leadership (founder Cindy Belicka) is involved throughout the search process from strategy through final hire.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Executive Search Services
- Retained Search
- Contingency Executive Search
Quantifiable outcome
- Multiple client testimonials reference quick placements and successful long-term hiring outcomes spanning over a decade of recurring engagement.
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use CB & Associates
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CB & Associates technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
CB & Associates partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- PIHRA (Professionals in Human Resources Association)coreFounder and CEO Cindy Belicka serves on the board of directors for PIHRA, a division of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management). PIHRA is a professional association for HR practitioners, and CB & Associates' involvement provides access to a community of HR professionals who serve as both clients and candidate sources for executive search engagements.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CB & Associates competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Stanton Chase: Mid-sized global retained executive search firm with sector practices in Industrial, Supply Chain & Logistics, and Consumer Goods & Services — most directly comparable to CB & Associates in size, sector focus, and senior-led engagement model.
- ON Partners: Boutique retained executive search firm focused on C-suite and senior leadership placements in industrial, technology, and consumer sectors — competes with CB & Associates for similar mid-market manufacturing and distribution leadership mandates.
- Diversified Search: Boutique retained executive search firm serving industrial, consumer, and supply chain clients — comparable to CB & Associates in operating model (senior-led, relationship-driven) and target customer base of mid-market to enterprise manufacturers.
- True Search: Boutique retained executive search firm serving consumer, industrial, and tech-enabled companies — directly comparable in scale and senior-led retained search model for leadership roles at growth-oriented manufacturers and distributors.
- Halbrecht Lieberman Associates: Boutique retained executive search firm focused on senior leadership placements in industrial, consumer products, and distribution — closely comparable to CB & Associates in boutique scale, vertical specialization, and senior-led engagement.
Broad incumbents
- Egon Zehnder: Global retained executive search and leadership advisory firm with practices serving industrial, consumer, and supply chain clients — overlaps with CB & Associates on C-suite and senior leadership placements in manufacturing-adjacent sectors.
- Korn Ferry: Global leader in executive search and talent advisory, including a dedicated Industrial and Supply Chain practice that serves the same manufacturing and distribution C-suite clients as CB & Associates, but at vastly greater scale and geographic reach.
- Russell Reynolds Associates: Global retained executive search firm with an Operations and Industrial Practice that recruits senior leaders for manufacturing, distribution, and supply chain organizations — directly comparable in target customers and search scope.
- Spencer Stuart: Premier retained executive search firm with deep expertise in industrial, supply chain, and operations leadership placements — competes for the same enterprise manufacturing clients and senior leadership mandates as CB & Associates.
- Heidrick & Struggles: Large retained executive search firm with an Industrial and CEO & Board Practice serving manufacturing and supply chain clients — directly overlaps with CB & Associates' core C-suite, VP, and board-level search offerings.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CB & Associates social profiles
Digital presenceCB & Associates financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CB & Associates leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
CB & Associates funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CB & 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 CB & Associates
What does CB & Associates do?
CB & Associates is a boutique executive search firm that provides high-touch, senior-led retained and contingency searches for C-suite, VP-level, and director-level leadership roles. The firm specializes exclusively in manufacturing, distribution, and supply chain sectors, helping clients define leadership gaps, shape search strategy, and place executives who can strengthen execution and support long-term growth.
Is CB & Associates a public or private company?
CB & Associates is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was CB & Associates founded?
CB & Associates was founded in 1999. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is CB & Associates based?
CB & Associates is headquartered in Redondo Beach, United States, in the North America region.
How does CB & Associates make money?
One revenue line is on record: executive Search Fees.
Who are CB & Associates's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Stanton Chase, ON Partners, Diversified Search, True Search and Halbrecht Lieberman Associates. Broad incumbents are Egon Zehnder, Korn Ferry, Russell Reynolds Associates, Spencer Stuart and Heidrick & Struggles.
Does CB & Associates have an API?
No public API is recorded for CB & Associates.
What industry is CB & Associates in?
CB & Associates's product category is Executive Search Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAAAA, C-Suite & Board Search. Its NAICS code is 561312.