Berglass + Associates Recruits Chief Equity Officer for Pizza Hut
October 31, 2022 – Around the globe, diversity, equity, and inclusion has grown to become a critically important boardroom topic given the increasing focus by legislatures, regulatory bodies, stock exchanges, investors, and the general public. Many of these stakeholders have enhanced their expectations around DEI because of the growing body of research that shows improving DEI results in improved business performance, not to mention the reality of an increasingly diverse workforce and labor market, according to executive recruiters.
Berglass + Associates, an executive search firm that specializes in the retail and consumer goods industries, recently assisted in the recruitment of Randy Martinez as chief equity officer at Pizza Hut. Cindy Walsh and Carlye Hirsch-Wolf led the assignment. “An amazing opportunity to make a difference with this best-in-class, global brand,” the search firm said in a LinkedIn post.
Mr. Martinez is a chief equity officer with 17-plus years of experience, leading diversity, equity, inclusion, and social responsibility initiatives – utilizing a background within workforce strategies, inclusion and belonging, talent management, diverse marketplaces, and corporate philanthropy. He has led strategic programs that enhance best practices, optimizing organizational performance. Previously, Mr. Martinez spent over 17 years at CVS Health, most recently serving as senior director, strategic diversity management (CVS Pharmacy, Omnicare, MinuteClinic).
Pizza Hut, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands Inc., has more restaurant locations in the world than any other pizza company. Founded in 1958 in Wichita, KS, Pizza Hut operates over 18,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries.
Consumer Goods and Retail Recruiters
Headquartered in New York City, Berglass + Associates brings more than 25 years experience in recruiting across multiple channels and industries. Les Berglass opened Berglass + Associates with the goal of building a future-thinking, responsive firm that would lead the charge in hiring contemporary executives for the consumer goods and retail industries. “We’re more interested in what’s ahead than what’s in the rearview mirror,” the search firm said. “We anticipated both the verticalization and branding of retail. We saw the enormous impact of digital early on. We also spotted the Millennial influence at its earliest stages. We were the first to see private equity’s interest in retail and quickly understood that their definition of leadership was unique.”
Ms. Walsh, vice president, brings to Berglass + Associates with a passion for retail. She joins the team after talent acquisition roles at brands Urban Outfitters and the Gap. “After spending so many years working inside iconic brands, I never considered working for an executive search firm until I found Berglass + Associates,” said Ms. Walsh. “We all share a sincere interest in people and what makes them tick. When I look at a candidate, the more I know about their entire life, the better. It’s always a combination of intellect and emotion that demonstrates right fit. When a candidate is passionate about her customer, I know we’re on the right track.”
Ms. Hirsch-Wolf, executive vice president, joined Berglass + Associates after nearly a decade leading the greater New York region of retail recruitment at Apple Inc. She drove a reinvention of Apple Retail’s interview process, infusing it with behavior-based questions to hire right-fit talent for the company’s unique, brand-defining culture. “Coming from a company like Apple, where culture and values are paramount when selecting world-class talent, I strive to gain a holistic view of a candidate beyond their job title to understand the way they think about their industry or role, and align that with the needs of our client,” said Ms. Hirsch-Wolf.
Related: Boards Seek Diversity with Help of Executive Recruiters
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
