Kirk Palmer Associates

About Us

Kirk Palmer Associates is a global executive search partner to the world’s leading consumer brands. Founded in 1987, we are industry specialists with a focus on retail, fashion, beauty, and consumer companies of all sizes and stages.

No one knows this talent community better than we do. With thousands of placements to show for it, we have spent the last forty years building deep and trusted relationships with the industry’s top executives, and many consider us to be career-long advisors and friends. This depth enables us to access, assess, and reference candidates in a way no other firm can.

Our work spans a broad range of CEO and C-Suite through VP-level roles across a vast array of functions, categories, and geographies.

Our partners are recognized for delivering exceptional service, constant momentum, a disciplined process, 24/7 responsiveness, and complete transparency.

In addition to our executive search services, we play a vital role in connecting our global retail and consumer brand community through the publication of our Daily News Brief.

Our values:

Trust
The work we do changes lives. That’s why our relationships and reputation within the industry are so vital to our work. We put extraordinary care into continuously earning the trust that has been the foundation of our business for almost four decades.

Respect
The way we treat people differentiates us. We’ve built a powerful brand around the simple philosophy that everyone we engage should be treated with dignity, respect, and an appreciation for differences.

Tenacity
With hard work as our firm-wide ethos, we’re relentless about doing the right thing in the right way. We communicate constantly, we seek far beyond the obvious, we follow up tirelessly, and we hold each other to the highest standards of quality and truth-seeking throughout each step of every search.

Inclusion
We know inclusion is an action, and it doesn’t happen without intention. As part of our longstanding commitment to present the right candidates – not just the obvious ones – we continuously grow our community with diverse talent that brings a wide range of backgrounds, cultures and perspectives.

Passion
We’re more than industry experts – we’re customers, advocates, and fans. Our love of brand and the industry infuses each partnership with palpable energy and momentum from beginning to end. We adhere to the highest professional standards, and we also have fun.

Recent Placements

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Expertise With Charisma

Clients describe us as authentic, knowledgeable, and fun industry experts. Candidates say our genuine care for the people we place sets us apart.

To learn more about our full team please click here

Kirk Palmer Associates

Solutions And Expertise

We are industry specialists with a broad and deep network of relationships spanning every channel and category of retail, fashion and beauty.

We work at the intersection of people and commerce, placing leaders in brands at every stage of growth.

Solutions
  • Advisory Services
  • Assessment
  • Board Services
  • Data Analy./Mrkt. Intell.
  • Executive Search
  • Onboarding
  • Org. Chart Mapping
  • Recruitment Research
  • Succession Planning
Industries
  • Consumer
  • Consumer Products
  • Consumer Services
  • Luxury
  • Private Equity
  • Restaurants
  • Retail
  • Travel, Hosp. & Leisure
  • Venture Capital
Functions
  • Board/Governance
  • CEO/President
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Finance/Accounting
  • General Management
  • GM/Operations
  • Human Resources
  • Information/Digital
  • Marketing & Sales
  • Supply Chain

Kirk Palmer Associates

News Briefings

Kirk Palmer Associates Assists Holt Renfrew with CEO Search

Retail-focused executive search firm Kirk Palmer Associates has assisted in the recruitment of Franco Savastano as president and CEO of Canadian luxury retailer Holt Renfrew. The search was led by Kyle Rudy. He succeeds Sebastian Picardo, who stepped down effective September 30, 2025, after five years at the helm. The appointment is expected to usher in a new

Kirk Palmer Associates Fills CEO Post for Chico’s FAS

Retail-focused executive search firm Kirk Palmer Associates has placed Trish Donnelly as division chief executive officer of Chico’s FAS, the women’s wear retailer owned by the KnitWell Group. The search was led by managing director, Jaimee Marshall. Ms. Donnelly will oversee all product and customer-facing functions for the Chico’s, Soma and White House Black Market brands,

Kirk Palmer Associates Places Chief Commercial Officer at PetSmart

Retail-focused executive search firm Kirk Palmer Associates has recruited Jesica Duarte as executive vice president and chief commercial officer of PetSmart. Dana Levine, Suzannah Brown, and Jennifer Riemer led the assignment. “Jesica is a strategic and growth-minded leader, with an impressive career tenure working across successful retail brands,” said Ken Hicks, president and CEO of PetSmart. “She has

Kirk Palmer Associates Recruits CFO for Fossil Group

Retail-focused executive search firm Kirk Palmer Associates has placed Randy Greben as chief financial officer of Fossil Group. The search was led by Kyle Rudy, Karen Ouchterloney, and Kerry Scott. He replaces Andrew Skobe, interim CFO. The appointment reinforces Fossil Group’s continued commitment to building its leadership team to drive long-term profitable growth. “We are thrilled to welcome

Kirk Palmer Associates

Press Releases

Armin Boehm joins Escalade Sports as Chief Executive Officer & President

Sporting goods manufacturer Escalade Sports has named Armin Boehm as Chief Executive Officer & President. Boehm is a veteran in the sporting goods industry with over three decades of global leadership experience at top brands spanning three continents. He most recently served as Chief Commercial Officer at Gibson Brands, where he led its omnichannel transformation

Nicole Otto joins Ruggable as Chief Executive Officer

Washable rug company Ruggable has appointed Nicole Otto as its new Chief Executive Officer. Otto will lead the high-growth company as it rapidly expands its business and continues to grow brand awareness. Otto is a retail, operations, brand, and tech executive with nearly three decades of leadership experience. She most recently served as Global Brand

Malissa Akay joins LVMH as Global President Merchandising & Marketing, DFS Group

Travel retailer DFS Group has named Malissa Akay as its new Global President Merchandising & Marketing. Akay is a seasoned fashion executive with over two decades of experience in merchandising, product, and business strategy. Akay is a DFS alum, initially spending over 13 years at the company holding a variety of senior positions. Most recently,

Angie Yeh joins Lululemon as VP eCommerce, China

Activewear brand Lululemon has appointed Angie Yeh as its new Vice President of eCommerce, China. Yeh has held eCommerce and marketing leadership roles at several luxury brands, including Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and Shiseido. Most recently, Yeh was with Gucci, where she served as SVP of Digital Business, Greater China. Congratulations, all!