JM Search Names Consumer Practice Co-Leaders
February 2, 2021 – JM Search, a senior-level talent provider serving private equity investors, portfolio companies and Fortune 1000s, has named MaryJeanne Scott and Phil Menzel as co-leaders of its consumer practice. Additional practice members include Abbee Phillips and Mike Neff, partners; Liza Stokes, vice president; and, Pete Haessig, search consultant. The search executives are supported by a team of research and business development associates. “I am excited to announce the expansion of our highly successful consumer practice,” said John Marshall, co-founder and chief executive officer of JM Search. “Our growing team of senior search executives each bring a level of industry depth and executive search experience resulting in an increased ability to identify and assess exceptional leaders who are creating shareholder value for all of our clients in the consumer industry.”
The consumer practice recruits board members, CEOs, C-suite and senior executives for manufacturers, direct-to-consumer, omni channel retailers and distributors of consumer goods and serves public, private, private equity and venture capital backed companies. The practice services all aspects of the consumer products industry and is especially deep in food and beverage, home furnishings, fashion, outdoor & recreational products, personal care and beauty, and cannabis. “We have a deep understanding of consumer-facing businesses from emerging companies to international household brands,” JM Search said. “Our incisive, inclusive and consultative approach to executive search starts with partners who bring deep domain expertise and are actively involved in every aspect of the search process.”
Ms. Scott has over 22 years of executive search experience, working broadly across omni-channel retail, digital, consumer products, luxury home and apparel, fast fashion, home decor, leisure, health and wellness, and consumer goods manufacturing. She has led senior-level engagements including C-suite, executive and director level/general management positions. Ms. Scott has partnered with private equity firms and their portfolio companies and has extensive experience recruited within the functional disciplines of marketing, merchandising, finance, I/T, human resources, supply chain/logistics, operations, and sales. She has worked with brands such as Holly Hunt, Kohler, Barney’s New York, Lifetime Fitness, Northern Tool & Equipment, Cabela’s, Target, Manhattan Toy and Room & Board.
Mr. Menzel brings nearly 30 years of human capital experience to JM Search. Having been the top human resources executive for multiple multi-billion-dollar businesses, he has recruited and led search committees for countless key executive hires. He leverages his decades of experience in corporate management to help clients strategically evaluate their executive leadership needs both short- and long-term.
JM Search is an advisor to CEOs, investors, and boards of directors in recruiting, assessing and delivering high performance leaders and transformational leadership teams. The firm’s clients include private equity firms and portfolio companies, venture capital-backed businesses and publicly held companies across North America. Founded in 1980, the JM Search team brings together former operating and financial executives, investors and experienced search professionals with deep industry specialization, functional expertise and proven access to talent spanning multiple industry sectors.
Recent Growth
JM Search recently added Kevin Logterman as partner in the firm’s financial officer practice. He joins current financial officer practice partners Drew Pressman, Brian Dwyer and David Robinson. “We are thrilled to have Kevin join our firm,” said Mr. Marshall. “Kevin’s prior experience placing CFOs and working with private equity companies will continue to solidify our longstanding commitment to helping our clients remain at the forefront of ensuring their companies have excellent financial leadership in place.” Mr. Logterman has over 20 years of executive search experience, serving private equity and family-owned companies. His focus has been recruiting CEO and CFO executives for middle market industrial companies with specific industry experience in automotive, chemicals, distribution, plastics, capital equipment and industrial services. He joins the firm from Slayton Search Partners, where he co-led the firm’s industrial practice.
This past September, JM Search expanded its dedicated healthcare technology center of excellence with the hiring of industry veteran Mike Forgash. As a sponsor-backed CEO, investor, and board member in the healthcare, life sciences and technology sectors, Mr. Forgash has assessed and built management teams, raised capital from top-tier equity firms, and led companies through successful exits, said Mr. Marshall.
Mr. Forgash said this is an exciting time to join JM Search. “The market for investment opportunities and leadership needs created and amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic could not make for a more opportune time to combine our resources and focus on this growing segment,” he said.
In June, JM Search formed a dedicated cybersecurity practice to assist public and private equity-backed companies in identifying and recruiting high-performance leaders. Partners Kevin Kernan and Tom Figueroa co-lead the firm’s center of excellence for cybersecurity leadership.
“Since our founding 40 years ago, JM Search has established a significant track record of partnering with companies that require transformational leadership to help drive operational efficiency, revenue growth and increased enterprise value,” said Mr. Marshall. “By formalizing this practice as a cybersecurity leadership center of excellence, we’re solidifying our longstanding commitment to helping clients remain at the forefront of security best practices and innovation amidst rapidly changing threat vectors, continued disruption, and required changes brought on by a global pandemic and the lasting consequences.”
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
