Purple Gold Partners

What Purple Gold Partners does

Purple Gold Partners is a CIO-led executive search and advisory firm founded in 2022 by Ken Jordan, a former CTO of Wells Fargo Enterprise Functions and CIO of Capital One Small Business Card. The firm operates from Richmond, Virginia, with a 1-10 person team, and serves enterprise clients globally with a hands-on engagement model that positions founder-level CIO expertise throughout every engagement, explicitly contrasting with the delegation patterns typical of larger executive search firms.

The firm's core offering spans three search engagement models — Retained Executive Search for mission-critical C-level roles (fixed placement fee with initial retainer), Contingent Professional Recruitment for mid-to-senior roles (percentage fee on placement), and Pipeline Development for future hiring needs (project-based fee) — all supported by the proprietary LeaderFit assessment framework that constructs role-specific candidate personas across four dimensions (Strategic Leadership, Problem Solving, Technical Excellence, Amplifying Culture). A complementary Transformation & Advisory practice covers Data Modernization and AI, Cloud Modernization, Technology and Talent Strategies, Skill Management and Intelligence, Org Design, and Tech Strategy & Execution, delivered in coordination with strategic partners Ippon Technologies (software, data, cloud, AI implementation in financial services) and Visual Workforce (skill management intelligence). Target verticals include Financial Services, Consumer & Retail, Technology & Software, Travel & Hospitality, with named enterprise customers such as KFC/Yum Brands, First City Monument Bank, CIBT, and private-equity-backed companies.

The firm differentiates through founder credibility (Fortune 50 operating experience), a purpose-driven brand anchored by the trademarked Hires for Hunger program (2,500 meals donated per placement, with 50,000+ meals donated in 2025 and renewed for 2026), a reported 96% client return rate, and a multi-vertical enterprise go-to-market targeting C-Suite executives and their direct reports through direct sales and strategic partner referrals. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; revenue mechanics are predominantly transaction-based with a mix of retainer, percentage, and project-based fees.

Name

Purple Gold Partners

Legal name

PURPLE GOLD PARTNERS, LLC

Website

https://www.pgtransform.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Purple Gold Partners is a Richmond, Virginia-based CIO-led executive search and advisory firm founded in 2022 that places C-suite and senior technology leaders and delivers transformation advisory to enterprise clients across financial services, consumer/retail, and technology verticals, using a proprietary LeaderFit assessment and curated partner ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search Services

NAICS

Executive Search Services (561312), Management Consulting Services (54161), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Enterprise RPO (End-to-End Program Management) (BPACABAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Digital Workplace & Collaboration Consulting (BPAHAEAH)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Leadership recruitment
• Technology advisory
• Talent acquisition
• Transformation consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Retained Executive Search: Fixed placement fee model with initial retainer for mission-critical C-level and executive leadership roles. Highly tailored approach for the company's most important leadership positions.
2. Contingent Professional Recruitment: Percentage-based fee payable only upon successful placement. Risk-free approach for professional mid-to-senior level talent without upfront investment.
3. Pipeline Development: Project-based fee for delivery of candidate pipelines for current or future hiring needs, helping accelerate hiring for critical mid to senior roles.
4. Transformation & Advisory Services: Includes data modernization and AI, cloud modernization, technology and talent strategies, and skill management intelligence. Delivered through curated partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Purple Gold Partners is a CIO-led executive search and advisory firm that helps organizations identify, hire, and advise senior leaders, primarily within technology, product, data, and AI functions. The firm offers retained executive search, contingent professional recruitment, recruitment process outsourcing, and leadership pipeline development, supported by its proprietary LeaderFit assessment framework. Complementing talent acquisition, it delivers transformation and advisory services including data modernization, cloud modernization, technology and talent strategy, skill management, org design, and tech strategy execution through curated partnerships with Ippon Technologies and Visual Workforce.

Product overview

Purple Gold Partners operates as a CIO-led executive search and advisory firm offering a unified portfolio of talent and transformation services. The core offering consists of executive search services (Retained Search, Contingent Search, and Pipeline Development) supported by the proprietary LeaderFit assessment framework. Complementing talent acquisition, the firm provides advisory and transformation services including Data Modernization and AI, Cloud Modernization, Technology and Talent Strategies, Skill Management and Intelligence, Org Design & Optimization, and Tech Strategy & Execution. Strategic partnerships with Ippon Technologies (for software, data, cloud, and AI implementation) and Visual Workforce (for skill management) extend the delivery capabilities. Services span Financial Services, Consumer & Retail, Technology & Software, and Travel & Hospitality industries, addressing functions including Technology, Product, Data & Analytics, AI, Security & Risk, and Strategy & Transformation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Retained Executive Search CIO-led retained executive search for mission-critical C-level and senior leadership roles, with a fixed placement fee and initial retainer. Tailored approach using the proprietary LeaderFit assessment methodology covering Strategic Leadership, Problem Solving, Technical Excellence, and Culture Amplification.
• Contingent Professional Recruitment Risk-free professional recruitment for mid-to-senior level talent with a percentage-based fee payable only upon successful placement; no upfront investment required from the client.
• Recruitment Process Outsourcing Full-service recruitment process outsourcing delivering candidate pipelines for current or future hiring needs for critical mid-to-senior roles.
• Leadership Pipeline Development Strategic service to build and develop leadership talent pipelines, ensuring organizational readiness for future leadership needs through project-based engagement.
• Data Modernization and AI Advisory Advisory services for cloud data modernization, AI implementation, and technology strategy transformation, delivered through strategic partnerships (notably Ippon Technologies for AWS-Snowflake execution).
• Cloud Modernization Consulting for cloud strategies, assessments, migrations, and governance planning to modernize organizational technology infrastructure.
• Technology and Talent Strategies Strategic consulting to develop technology roadmaps and talent acquisition strategies aligned with business transformation goals.
• Skill Management and Intelligence Advisory service leveraging the Visual Workforce partnership to support skills-based organizational transformation, improving retention, mobility, upskilling, and competitive advantage; particularly valuable in M&A transactions.
• Org Design & Optimization Executive-level guidance to redesign and optimize organizational structures, including technology and product org design, strategic sourcing, and establishing Centers of Excellence.
• Tech Strategy & Execution CIO-experience backed development and delivery of technology strategies including emerging technology adoption, cloud governance, and AWS/Snowflake data ecosystem implementation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% client return rate
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ippon TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 June 2025Ippon Technologies is a boutique technology solutions company delivering software, data, cloud, and AI capabilities to Financial Services. Purple Gold Partners partnered with Ippon because of first-hand experience as former clients, top NPS scores, technical quality, domain expertise in financial services, and aligned values. Ippon serves as a key execution partner for transformation advisory services including AWS-Snowflake data solutions.
• Visual WorkforcecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVisual Workforce provides skill management and intelligence solutions for modern companies. Partnership aligns with Purple Gold's talent and advisory work, offering tangible ROI for companies through enhanced leadership decision making, retention, mobility, and upskilling. Particularly valuable in M&A transactions.
• L.A.U.N.C.H for LifeminorOthersNon-profit organization focused on youth development. Ken Jordan serves as President and Board Chair, mentoring fatherless boys and championing youth development. Purple Gold supports through financial sponsorships and volunteerism.
• Community Non-Profit PartnersminorOthersPartnerships with various Richmond-area non-profits including Home Again Richmond, Tech for Troops, James River Park, Richmond Community Toolbank, Entryway Talent, The Launch for Life, American Heart Association, and First Tee Greater Richmond.

Scale indicators6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/purplegoldpartners
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/purple-gold-partners

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Purple Gold Partners