Kincannon & Reed Assists Ritchie Industries with CEO Search
April 27, 2026 – Kincannon & Reed (K&R), which exclusively focuses on food, agribusiness, and the related life sciences, has recruited Chad Huyser as the new CEO of Ritchie Industries, a manufacturer of livestock watering solutions and a portfolio company of Granite Creek Capital Partners. “Ritchie Industries needed a leader who could respect its heritage while advancing the business through its next phase of growth,” said K&R managing director Patrick Fitzgerald. “Chad brings deep experience across agricultural equipment, automation, and dealer-led distribution, along with the leadership discipline required to guide a manufacturing organization through transformation.”
“Chad’s leadership style reflects both operational rigor and cultural stewardship,” said K&R managing partner Jon Leafstedt. “He is well positioned to help Ritchie Industries build on its legacy while advancing its long-term growth strategy.”
Mr. Huyser brings nearly 30 years of leadership experience across agricultural equipment and automation organizations, with particular strength in aligning product innovation, dealer networks, and customer needs to drive growth. He also offers significant experience managing complex P&Ls and leading organizations through structural change while supporting livestock producers across North American and European markets. He was previously CEO of Lely North America.
Reporting to the board of directors, Mr. Huyser will lead Ritchie Industries’ continued evolution into a high-growth agricultural equipment and technology-enabled services platform through product expansion, innovation, and strategic acquisitions. In this role, he will guide transformation efforts designed to strengthen organizational capability and accelerate value creation while building on Ritchie Industries’ longstanding reputation with livestock producers.
Ritchie Industries is a manufacturer of automated livestock watering solutions, serving the beef, dairy, equine, and broader livestock markets with a comprehensive range of products designed to deliver reliable water access in demanding environments. Headquartered in Conrad, IA, the company has more than a century of operating history and is widely recognized for innovation, durability, and performance, with its systems engineered to function in extreme weather conditions and deployed across all 50 states and in more than 20 countries.
Founded in 1981, Kincannon & Reed serves clients throughout the world from locations in the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. The firm is based in Arlington, VA. Kincannon & Reed’s mission is: “We recruit leaders for organizations that feed the world and keep it healthy.”
Mr. Fitzgerald is a new managing director. His background in the value chain includes numerous roles with Kraft Heinz and ConAgra Brands as well as Glanbia Performance Nutrition. He most recently provided C-suite leadership consultation as a member of EY’s People advisory services.
Related: Kincannon & Reed Recruits President and CEO for CropLife America
Mr. Leafstedt, managing partner, draws on his expertise in agriculture and biotechnology to help associations, cooperatives, and early-stage companies define their talent needs and recruit senior leadership. Passionate about connecting people with the right roles and organizations, he has led more than 200 searches in his tenure with Kincannon & Reed. Mr. Leafstedt is located in Des Moines, IA.
Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network Search
Kincannon & Reed recently placed Mariam Parker as executive director of the Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network (CFBN). She succeeds founding leader Alan Reed, who is retiring after nearly a decade of service. “Mariam brings a rare combination of strategic vision, relationship-building, and mission-driven leadership,” said Lisa Johnson, managing director. “Her experience aligning industry stakeholders around shared outcomes makes her exceptionally well positioned to guide CFBN and Bigger Table forward.”
“Mariam brings the strategic leadership and collaborative mindset needed to guide CFBN into its next phase,” said Janet Garetto, board chair of the Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network. “She understands how to strengthen industry relationships while ensuring our work continues to deliver measurable value to both members and the broader community.”
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Ms. Parker brings deep experience in non-profit leadership and food-system collaboration. Most recently, she served as the inaugural executive director of the Texas Food & Wine Alliance, where she built partnerships among chefs, producers, and industry leaders while overseeing community grant programs focused on impact and innovation.
Founded in 2017, the Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network has grown into a regional network connecting hundreds of food and beverage companies across Chicagoland. Under Mr. Reed’s leadership, the organization expanded its mission with the launch of Bigger Table, a 501(c)(3) that applies industry expertise and supply-chain capabilities to address food insecurity through innovative product development and distribution.
Related: Kincannon & Reed Places CEO at Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
