Consumer & Retail Leadership Advisory
Consumer businesses are facing unprecedented disruption—from shifting consumer behaviors and digital transformation to sustainability and supply chain complexities. Success demands bold, adaptive leadership that can drive innovation while staying true to brand purpose. At Ward Howell, we partner with consumer companies to identify, develop, and empower transformational leaders who shape the future of the industry.
Navigating the New Consumer Landscape with Transformational Leadership
The consumer and retail industry is at a crossroads. Evolving consumer expectations, digital disruption, sustainability mandates, and omnichannel competition are redefining the marketplace. Consumers today are no longer just looking for products—they demand personalized experiences, ethical sourcing, and seamless digital engagement.
To thrive in this dynamic landscape, businesses need leaders who can anticipate trends, embrace innovation, and drive change with agility. Traditional approaches are no longer enough. Today’s leaders must balance purpose with performance, resilience with reinvention, and digital fluency with deep consumer insight.
At Ward Howell, we help consumer and retail companies secure and develop leadership that makes a difference. Our expertise spans global brands, high-growth disruptors, luxury and lifestyle, food and beverage, and next-generation digital commerce. We don’t just identify talent—we build long-term leadership strategies that ensure sustained competitive advantage.
The Future of Consumer Leadership
Consumer brands are navigating a new era of complexity. The ability to differentiate, adapt, and create lasting brand loyalty depends on how well businesses address key transformational forces:
Digital Acceleration & E-commerce Growth – The rise of D2C (direct-to-consumer), data-driven marketing, and metaverse commerce demands leaders who can harness technology for growth and consumer engagement.
Sustainability & Ethical Consumerism
Supply Chain & Operational Agility
Omnichannel Integration
Consumer-Centric Growth Strategies
These forces are reshaping leadership expectations across the consumer and retail landscape. The challenge? Finding leaders who can turn disruption into opportunity.
Our Expertise: Finding & Developing Transformational Consumer Leaders
1. Digital & Omnichannel Leadership
The acceleration of digital commerce, data-driven consumer engagement, and AI-powered insights requires next-generation leaders who can reimagine the consumer experience.
- Hiring Chief Digital Officers (CDOs), Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs), and E-commerce Heads to drive omnichannel strategy.
- Identifying leaders in data, AI, and predictive analytics to enhance consumer insights and personalization.
- Supporting D2C brand transformation with expertise in growth marketing and consumer engagement models.
2. Sustainability & ESG Leadership
Consumer expectations for sustainability, ethical sourcing, and corporate responsibility are higher than ever. We help brands build leadership teams that champion ESG values while ensuring business performance.
- Recruiting Chief Sustainability Officers (CSOs) and ESG-driven leaders to align corporate values with action.
- Developing leadership strategies for circular economy models, responsible sourcing, and brand purpose alignment.
3. Retail & Consumer Talent Pipeline Development
The future of consumer leadership lies in identifying and nurturing high-potential talent before they reach the C-suite. We help companies:
- Design and implement leadership development programs tailored for the consumer industry.
- Identify future CEOs, commercial leaders, and operational executives through succession planning and talent assessment.
- Strengthen the next generation of retail and consumer goods leaders by bridging functional expertise with strategic leadership capabilities.
4. Private Equity & High-Growth Consumer Ventures
Consumer brands backed by private equity and venture capital require leaders who can drive rapid scale, operational efficiency, and brand reinvention. Our work includes:
- Design and implement leadership development programs tailored for the consumer industry.
- Recruiting CEOs and CFOs with experience in high-growth consumer businesses.
- Aligning leadership teams with investment timelines and transformation goals.
Partnering with Ward Howell: Elevating Consumer Leadership
At Ward Howell, we combine global reach with deep consumer industry expertise. Our team includes former industry executives and leadership advisors who understand the challenges and opportunities consumer businesses face.
We go beyond transactional executive search—we build partnerships that ensure long-term success. Whether navigating disruption, succession, or transformation, we are committed to helping consumer brands find and develop the leadership they need to thrive.
The future of consumer leadership is being shaped today. Let’s build it together.
Partner
Bernd Prasuhn
Chairman of the Global Board
Benedikt Rinio
Managing Partner & Chief Marketing Officer
LUIGI MANCIOPPI
Partner & Chairman Italy
VITO GIOIA
Partner & Man. Dir. Italy
Matt Clemens
Managing Partner
Gregory Nazaryan
Managing Partner
JENS HAGEDORN
MANAGING PARTNER
IGOR KABUZENKO
Managing Partner
ALI AGA
Managing Partner
INDRAJIT MOULIK
Managing Partner
Oyvind Bo
PARTNER
Paul Surridge
Partner
ALEXANDER M. GENIL
Partner
SONIA PRAIS
PARTNER
RUBY I. JACOB
Partner
Cristina C. Vivas
Partner
Stephan Gräfer
Partner
MIGUEL DE GOMIS
Partner
Javier Beneyto
Partner
RONY LAN
Partner
Susie Marks
Partner
SIMON E. FRANCO
Partner
MASSIMO MISTICONI
Associate Partner
Silvia Moschi
Associate Partner
Paul Lee
Associate Partner
Werner Laber
PARTNER
Megan Cook
Director
Dana Tomkovicz
Director
JANE FENG
Partner
Reinhard Bockstette
PARTNER
Axel Dietz
PARTNER
Giovanna Kampouri Monnas
PARTNER
Frank Ruether
PARTNER
Klaus Neuberger
PARTNER
Mario Gastaldi
Associate Partner
Philipp Veit
Senior Consultant & Head of Research
