About Us

For 50 years, Wray Executive Search has successfully provided executive search and advisory services, recruiting impressive leadership teams for many of the nation’s most successful restaurant, foodservice, hospitality, franchise and retail companies. Our primary focus has always been and remains aligning candidates who have the appropriate blend of knowledge, skill, attitude, experience and commitment with our clients’ needs. Our client partners range from multinationals to entrepreneurial startups both private and public.

Our team of executives has developed broad-based expertise coupled with an impeccable reputation for creativity building the teams and human capital strategies that contribute to the progress of bringing the brands to the top of their respective segments. We are vested in the process and the ultimate success of each candidate placed.

We provide an unparalleled commitment to the recruitment of an organization’s most critical players—C-level professionals, Functional Vice Presidents, and Director- level executives. Services are tailored to our clients’ specific hiring and assessment objectives. We work tenaciously until an assignment is complete, with a strong client focus and a commitment to quality on every engagement.

Wray Executive Search has depth and breadth of experience conducting searches both domestically and internationally in the following areas:

  • Board Members • C Level • Operations • Financial • Marketing
  • Human Resources • Business Development • Supply Chain
  • Manufacturing • Culinary • Construction • Training
  • Quality Assurance • Franchise Sales • IT

Our clients include billion dollar brands, mid-market and emerging companies. We work closely with both public and private boards and leadership teams. We boast relationships with many of the top industry involved private equity firms. We are engaged as a “Retained” firm to represent our client’s interests and deliver the most talented executives within their respective segments.

Recent Placements

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Wray Executive Search is led by an elite recruitment team of accomplished professionals who combine personal experience in the restaurant, foodservice, hospitality, and franchise industries with expertise in executive search.

 

Solutions And Expertise

What We Do – We provide an unparalleled commitment to the recruitment of an organization’s most critical players—C-level professionals, VP’s, and Director level executives. Services are tailored to our clients’ specific hiring and assessment objectives. We work tenaciously until an assignment is complete, with a strong client focus and a commitment to quality on every engagement.

Executive Talent Disciplines – Wray Executive Search has depth and breadth of experience conducting searches both domestically and internationally in the following areas:

Solutions
  • Advisory Services
  • Board Services
  • Career Services
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Executive Search
  • Leadership Consulting
  • Leadership Develop.
  • Onboarding
  • Succession Planning
Industries
  • Consumer Products
  • Restaurants
  • Retail
  • Travel, Hosp. & Leisure
Functions
  • Board/Governance
  • Business Development
  • C-Level
  • CEO/President
  • Communications/PR
  • Development
  • Diversity & Inclusion
  • Finance/Accounting
  • General Management
  • GM/Operations
  • Human Resources
  • Information/Digital
  • Legal/Compliance
  • Manufacturing
  • Marketing & Sales
  • Research & Develop.
  • Supply Chain

News Briefings

Will the Labor Shortage Ever End?

Labor shortages can occur due to various reasons, such as demographic shifts, changes in labor market conditions, skill mismatches, or economic factors. Ever since the pandemic, U.S. companies big and small have been scrambling to find enough workers to stay fully staffed, according to a new report from Bob Gershberg, managing partner and CEO of

Is the Non-Compete Soon to be History?

The federal government has announced a proposed rule which would ban non-compete agreements between employers and employees, independent contractors, externs, interns, volunteers, apprentices, and even sole proprietors who provide a service to a client or customer. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) stated the widespread use of non-competes agreements is an “often exploitative practice that suppresses

Wray Executive Search Appoints Partners

Wray Executive Search, a provider of executive search and advisory services in the restaurant, foodservice, retail, and franchise industries, has named Ray Kelley and Rebecca Patt as partners. Mr. Kelley and Ms. Patt will be responsible for growing Wray’s executive search operations across North America, continuing to build a dedicated recruitment team, and driving the implementation of

How Employers Can Adapt to Remain Competitive in Today’s Labor Market

Worker confidence is at an all-time high, with a majority of job seekers believing it’s easier to find a job this year than the previous year and one-third feeling comfortable quitting a job without having another lined up, according to the 2022 Job Seeker Nation Report from Employ Inc., the parent company of Jobvite, JazzHR, and NXTThing RPO.

Press Releases

Wray Executive Search Names Ray Kelley and Rebecca Patt Partner

St. Petersburg, FL, December 14, 2022 – Wray Executive Search, a leader in executive search and advisory services in the restaurant, foodservice, retail, and franchise industries is pleased to announce that Ray Kelley and Rebecca Patt have been named partner. Mr. Kelley and Ms. Patt will be responsible for growing Wray’s executive search operations across

Executive Chat – Dick Wray and Bob Gershberg – April 2022

Wray Search 50th Anniversary Special: Executive Chat with Wray Search Founder & Chairman Emeritus Dick Wray and current CEO & Managing Partner Bob Gershberg By Rebecca Patt, SVP Development, Wray Executive Search This year we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of Wray Executive Search, led by Founder & Chairman Emeritus Dick Wray and CEO &

Wray Executive Search Announces the Opening of Miami Office

(March 16, 2022) Wray Executive Search is pleased to announce the expansion into the influential Miami market with the opening of an office in the rapidly growing city. Rebecca Patt, who brings 18 years of executive search experience with Wray as Senior Vice President, will lead the Miami office. Rebecca has successfully completed searches for

Wray Executive Search Names Kevin Stockslager Partner

June 15, 2021 – St. Petersburg, FL, June 15, 2021 – Wray Executive Search, a leader in executive search and advisory services in the restaurant, foodservice, retail, and franchise industries is pleased to announce that Kevin M. Stockslager, PhD has been named partner. Mr. Stockslager will be responsible for growing Wray’s executive search operations across North America,

Multimedia

Thought Leadership
Viewpoint – Bob Gershberg – September 2023
Viewpoint – Bob Gershberg – August 2023
Viewpoint – Bob Gershberg – July 2023
Viewpoint – Bob Gershberg – June 2023
Viewpoint – Bob Gershberg – January 2023 – The End of the Non-Compete in America?
Viewpoint – Bob Gershberg – December 2022 – Food, Beverage and Restaurant Trends for 2023
Viewpoint July 2022 – Retention, Turnover – the Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Viewpoint June 2022 – Remote, Hybrid or On-site
Viewpoint May 2022 Emotional Intelligence is a Crucial Element Needed for Effective Leadership
Viewpoint April 2022 – Building a High-Performance Leadership Team
Viewpoint March 2022 – Women in Leadership

Executive Chat
Executive Chat – John Metz RREMC Restaurants.
Executive Chat – Michael Mabry Won Life Brands .
Executive Chat with Carlos Bernal, CEO at Areas USA.
Executive Chat featuring Grant Kreutzer, VP Franchise Development with Hawaiian Bros.
Executive Chat with Rebecca Patt, SVP Development, Wray
Executive Chat featuring Abby Taylor, Founder & CMO of Playa Bowls
Executive Chat with Don Fox, CEO at Firehouse Subs
Executive Chat with Richard Snow, Chair of the IFA Black Franchise Leadership Council
Executive Chat with Meredith Sandland, co-author of Delivering the Digital Restaurant
Executive Chat with Rebecca Patt, SVP Development at Wray Executive Search

Firm Overview
Why a Retained Search?
The Team
8 Step Search Process
6 Points of Distinction

Career Opportunities
Click here for full listing of opportunities