The Grady Group - CPG Recruiting Since 1999

What The Grady Group - CPG Recruiting Since 1999 does

The Grady Group is a boutique executive search firm founded in 1999 by Justin Armintrout and headquartered in Missoula, Montana, that provides recruiting services exclusively to the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry. The firm targets small to mid-size disruptive CPG brands alongside selected Fortune 500 CPG organizations, executing mid- to executive-level searches across functions including sales, marketing, operations, finance/FP&A, eCommerce, and product development. Its core asset is a proprietary database of more than 25,000 passive CPG candidates, approximately 90% of whom are currently employed and not actively applying to job postings.

The firm offers three integrated service lines: Executive Search and Recruitment Services, which delivers full-cycle placement; Confidential Executive Search, which conducts discreet outreach for sensitive leadership transitions; and Talent Management and Strategy Formulation, which provides succession planning, leadership development, and internal talent pipeline consulting. Underlying technology consists of a proprietary candidate database rather than a software platform; the firm's marketing references "advanced recruiting technology" without specifying AI, automation, or matching algorithms, and there are no patents, software products, or AI/ML disclosures. Customer engagement is direct and consultative, with placements spanning food, beverage, pet, juvenile products, housewares, vitamins and supplements, toys, sporting goods, hardware, and apparel sub-categories.

Revenue is generated through retained executive search fees on a professional-services basis, with pricing negotiated per engagement and not publicly disclosed. The firm reports over 500 successful placements since 1999 with a claimed 96% search-to-hire success rate, and over 60% of placements reflecting cultural, ethnic, or gender diversity. Distribution is exclusively direct: clients engage via website contact forms, email, phone, or LinkedIn outreach, supported by referral-driven demand and a blog serving as the primary thought-leadership channel. The Grady Group operates as a founder-led, privately held entity with no external funding, no parent company, and 1-10 employees distributed across Missoula, MT and Westchester County, NY locations.

Name

The Grady Group - CPG Recruiting Since 1999

Legal name

The Grady Group Inc.

Website

https://gradygroup.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Grady Group is a boutique executive search firm founded in 1999 that exclusively recruits mid- to executive-level professionals for the consumer packaged goods industry, leveraging a proprietary database of 25,000+ passive candidates and 500+ cumulative placements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search & Recruiting Services

NAICS

Executive Search Services (561312)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Consumer & Retail Leadership Search (BPACAAAG)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• CPG recruiting
• Talent management consulting
• Consumer packaged goods staffing
• Confidential executive placement

Headquarters

HQ city

Missoula

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Executive Search and Placement Services: Retained executive search services for mid- to executive-level CPG professionals. The firm charges fees for successful placements, typically working on retained search engagements. Services include confidential executive search, targeted candidate identification, and comprehensive hiring support.
2. Talent Management and Strategy Formulation: Consulting services focused on succession planning, leadership development, and building internal talent pipelines for CPG clients. These services complement core recruiting and provide ongoing client engagement.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Grady Group is a boutique executive search firm that exclusively recruits mid-to-executive level professionals for consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies across food, beverage, pet, housewares, juvenile products, and related categories. The firm provides three core services: full-service executive search and recruitment, confidential executive search for sensitive leadership transitions, and talent management strategy consulting for succession planning and pipeline development. Revenue is generated through retained search fees charged upon successful placement of candidates.

Product overview

The Grady Group is a specialized CPG recruiting firm offering three integrated service offerings: Executive Search and Recruitment Services (core placement service), Confidential Executive Search (discrete recruitment for sensitive roles), and Talent Management and Strategy Formulation (succession planning and talent pipeline development). Together, these services provide end-to-end support for CPG companies seeking to attract, place, and retain top executive talent.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Executive Search and Recruitment Services Full-service executive search and recruitment solutions for identifying and placing mid-to-executive level professionals in consumer packaged goods companies, including sourcing, screening, assessment, and onboarding support. Designed for CPG companies seeking top-tier leadership talent.
• Confidential Executive Search

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% of searches result in a successful hire
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Heritage Group: Executive search firm specializing in consumer goods and CPG recruiting, with a strong track record placing senior leaders in food, beverage, and household products companies. Direct niche competitor to The Grady Group with comparable vertical specialization.
• Greenbriar Search Group: Specialized executive search firm focused on the consumer products industry, recruiting executives for food, beverage, household products, and personal care companies. Closely comparable in niche CPG focus and mid-to-executive level placements.
• The Connely Group: Boutique executive search firm specializing exclusively in the consumer products (CPG) industry, placing senior-level executives across marketing, sales, supply chain, and general management roles. Direct competitor to The Grady Group with similar CPG-only focus and confidential search capabilities.
• Quest Group: CPG-focused executive search firm placing senior leaders across consumer products categories. Comparable in vertical specialization, confidential search capabilities, and mid-market to enterprise CPG client base.
• The Clark Group: Executive search firm with deep CPG and consumer products specialization, recruiting executives for marketing, sales, operations, and general management roles. Direct comparable in industry focus and target customer profile.

Broad incumbents

• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with a dedicated Consumer Markets practice serving large CPG companies. Represents the broad incumbent alternative for Fortune 500 CPG clients seeking multi-practice, global executive search capabilities.
• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm with executive search operations spanning CPG and consumer products. Competes for larger enterprise CPG executive mandates where The Grady Group's boutique scale is a constraint.
• Spencer Stuart: Global executive search firm with a Consumer Products practice serving many of the world's largest CPG companies. Represents an incumbent alternative for premium CPG executive mandates requiring global footprint and board-level capabilities.
• DHR Global: Executive search firm with a Consumer Products practice serving CPG clients across multiple subcategories. Broader incumbent offering overlapping services for mid-market and enterprise CPG executive mandates.

Emerging players

• ON Partners: Boutique executive search firm with growing consumer products practice, focused on placing senior leaders in CPG and adjacent industries. Emerging competitor with comparable boutique positioning and partial category overlap.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-grady-group-inc.

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 The Grady Group - CPG Recruiting Since 1999