Kincannon & Reed

About Us

Food and agriculture: industries as unique as the people who lead them. And no one knows them like we do. We’re Kincannon & Reed, a global executive search firm exclusively serving organizations within the food and agriculture industries.

Our approach is different
With 40 years of experience across diverse international sectors, we know the caliber of leaders needed to shape a promising future for the food and agriculture industries.

We’ve sat in your chair.
Empty seats at your leadership table or ineffective executives hurt profits, morale, and market share. Our principals are well-networked, former industry executives who understand your priorities and the talent you seek. We advise you as a colleague or peer, rather than an outsider. Learn who we are.

Knowing your next leader is our job.
We are a team of search professionals serving clients focused on feeding the world and keeping it healthy. We leverage our deep industry knowledge, data, and connections to identify and place leaders with the right experiences, values, and cultural fit. Learn who we serve.

Providing search expertise and more
Our search professionals partner with you throughout the process. We ask questions, listen for understanding, and assess candidates from the informed perspective of former executives. We have a genuine interest in your organization’s next leader. Learn what we do.

Kincannon & Reed

Our Team

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You’re looking for an impact player. Start by meeting ours.
We are a team of search professionals who know the value of qualified leadership, diversity, and the important role we play in the future of the food and agriculture industries – our reputation proves it.

Kincannon & Reed

Solutions And Expertise

Serving clients who feed the world and keep it healthy.
We’re a firm with a focus – specializing in delivering leaders. Our clients from across the globe are all types and sizes of organizations. If food and agriculture are part of your business model, we have principals with experience and connections in your industry.

Executive Roles in Which We Specialize
Whether you’re looking for a CEO, research leader, marketing strategist or operations head, Kincannon & Reed’s executive level search experience spans diverse functional roles.

Kincannon & Reed

News Briefings

Kincannon & Reed Recruits President and COO for Clarkson Grain Company

Executive recruitment firm Kincannon & Reed, which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, recently placed Kevin Pray as the organization’s new president and chief operating officer of Clarkson Grain Company. The assignment was led by managing partner John Wright and managing director Carolyn Schubert. “A seasoned ag professional, Kevin’s strong background in both

Kincannon & Reed Places Two Top Leaders for AgReliant Genetics

Executive recruitment firm Kincannon & Reed, which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, recently helped to fill two key leadership roles for AgReliant Genetics in Westfield, IN. Brian Barker is the new chief executive officer and president of the biotechnology research company, and David Pugh, who was hired a few weeks earlier, is

Kincannon & Reed Recruits VP of HR for Highline Mushrooms

Executive recruitment firm Kincannon & Reed, which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, recently placed Brian McCarthy as vice president of human resources of organic mushroom grower Highline Mushrooms in Leamington, Ontario. The assignment was led by managing partners Janet Wightman and John Wright. With more than two decades of experience as an

Kincannon & Reed Recruits CFO and CHRO for Riceland Foods

Executive recruitment firm Kincannon & Reed, which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, recently recruited Craig Parr as CFO and Lionel Riley as CHRO of farmer-owned rice and soybean cooperative Riceland Foods. As the organization’s new CFO, Mr. Parr’s expertise is expected to be instrumental as the organization continues to grow, said

Kincannon & Reed

Press Releases

K&R Places CEO at Topigs Norsvin

Topigs Norsvin is pleased to announce the appointment of Dick Hordijk as its new CEO. He will make up the Board of Directors of Topigs Norsvin alongside the current directors, Pieter van Sundert (CFO) and Hans Olijslagers (CTO). Dick Hordijk is from the Netherlands and starts in his new position on March 31, 2025. He

Grounded Capital Partners with K&R on Principal Search

Investment firm Grounded Capital recently welcomed Mike Denny to the organization as a Principal. In his new role, Denny will work closely with the Chief Executive Officer to lead the management of all farms and ranches currently in the portfolio, in addition to developing and implementing strategies to grow Grounded Capital’s agricultural holdings. His responsibilities

K&R Places VP of Operations at MPS Egg Farms

This month, MPS Egg Farms welcomed Edward Chisholm to their growing organization as the Vice President of Operations. As the new VP of Operations, Chisholm will be responsible for steering the company’s operational strategy across all departments, setting and driving performance objectives in areas including production, processing, customer service, mills, vaccination, and labor management. Collaborating

Kincannon & Reed Launches K&R EDGE – Leadership Solutions

Kincannon & Reed, a leading provider of executive recruitment services in the food-ag value chain, announces the launch of K&R Edge Leadership Solutions for clients across the Food and Agriculture industries. A comprehensive set of leadership development solutions, this division is designed to help organizations cultivate high-performing leaders and drive sustainable business growth. “We have

Kincannon & Reed

Multimedia

Food For Thought
Finding Resilience and Opportunity at WIA 2025
From Crisis to Clarity: Making Leadership a Strategic Priority in Ag
Employee Engagement: Why It Matters More Than Ever for Food & Ag Leaders
2025 Mid Year Global Talent Trends & Implications
Australia’s Executive Talent Crisis: Strategic Leadership in an Era of Scarcity
Is Your Executive Value Proposition Attracting Top Talent in Food & Agriculture?
The First 100 Days: Reframing Executive Onboarding to Accelerate Impact and Retention
Closing the Gap: Future-Proofing Leadership in Food & Ag
C-Suite Crisis: Why Finding the Right Leaders is Ag’s Biggest Challenge
Modern Milk, Modern Leadership: Why Talent is Dairy’s Next Competitive Edge
The AI-Powered Leader: Essential Strategies for the New Era
High Stakes, Fast Food: Leadership in QSR’s Complex Environment
Breaking New Ground: Insights in Building Food and Ag Leadership
Q1 Talent Trends & Implications for EMEA
Q1 Global Talent Trends & Implications
Beyond Innovation: Navigating A Shifting Agri-Food Landscape
Navigating Turbulence: Insights from the NGFA Annual Convention
Breaking Barriers: Empowering Women Leaders in Food and Agriculture
Authentic Leadership: A Catalyst for Success in the Evolving Dairy Industry
Year End Talent Trends & Implications for EMEA
Year End Global Talent Trends & Implications
Cultivating Change: The Essential Role of Leadership in Sustainable Agriculture
Driving Organizational Success: The Power of Communication and Collaboration
Elevating Your Leadership: The Power of Executive Search Partnerships
Unlocking Leadership Potential: The Value of Leadership Assessments
Driving Success: The Impact of Outside Board Directors
Mid Year EMEA Talent Trends & Implications
2024 Mid Year Talent Trends & Implications
Succession = Successful: The Importance of Succession Planning & Best Practices
Year End Global Talent Trends and Implications
The Impact of Purpose in Leadership
The ROI of Executive Coaching: Is it Worthwhile?
Inclusive Leadership: Three Actions for Successful Leaders
Human Capital Strategies of C-Suite Executives: The Future of Food and Ag
First Quarter Talent Trends and Implications
Optimism & Community Felt at Women In Ag summit
Future Food-Tech Event Highlights Sustainability, Scalability
Need for Adaptive Leadership, Innovative Solutions a Focus at World Agri-Tech Event
Five Talent Retention & Recruitment Strategies for Turbulent Times
Developing Leaders – The Role of an Executive Coach

To view all Kincannon & Reed Insights, please click here.

Case Studies:
Planting Seeds for Growth in a Biotech Leader
Blazing Trails for a Forestry Biotech Leader
High Profile Leader for A High Profile Enterprise
A Scientist vs. a Leader of Scientists
Finding a One-of-a-Kind Leader in a Vast Market
Searching the Seven Seas for Executive Talent

To view all Kincannon & Reed Case Studies, please click here.

The Impact of the Right Leader
Attracting the Right Leaders
Farm Foods Fact Podcast: The Shift In Food And Ag Labor Resources
Global & Industry Leaders