PierceGray Recruits Chief Operating Officer for Consumer Safety Technology
March 21, 2024 – PierceGray recently assisted in the recruitment of Melissa Robbins as the new chief operating officer of Consumer Safety Technology (CST). “We are looking to the future, with clear goals in mind, including the opportunity to redefine the market with game-changing products and services,” said Kathy Boden Holland, CEO of Consumer Safety Technology. “I’m confident we’ve got the team to take us to the next level.”
Ms. Robbins offers a blend of leadership, compliance and operational expertise, with a background in cross-enterprise management in highly regulated industries. “Her leadership will be pivotal in streamlining operations, enhancing communication, and driving efficiency across the organization,” Consumer Safety Technology said.
Ms. Robbins previously spent 13 years at Adtalem Global Education, where she led student operations and compliance including crisis and disaster management. In this role, she oversaw state and federal compliance, and stakeholder operations, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Chicago, and Board Chair for Girls in the Game. Ms. Robbins received a bachelor’s degree and postgraduate teaching qualification from the University of New England (Armidale) in arts and education, and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.
Founded in 1988, Consumer Safety Technology is a direct-to-consumer provider of driving safety technologies that prevent impaired driving and offer services to support individuals through the license restoration process after a DUI. With more than 300,000 impaired drivers estimated on the road daily, the company has helped over 1 million consumers live and drive responsibly through brands such as Intoxalock and Breathe Easy Insurance Solutions. With operations in 46 states, the company provides a comprehensive suite of services including ignition interlock safety devices, insurance brokerage, roadside assistance, and substance detection, among other products. CST is headquartered in Des Moines, IA, and generates ~$250 million in annual revenue. In 2022, the private equity firm L Catterton acquired a majority stake in CST.
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PierceGray is a specialized, retained executive search firm focused on building leadership teams in investor-back environments. The firm is functionally-focused, hiring executives and building teams in the following disciplines: operations and supply chain, sales and marketing, finance and transformation, and general management. PierceGray’s clients include private equity firms and portfolio companies as well as publicly-held companies across North America. PierceGray has been operating since 2006 and serves clients in nearly every industry sector in North America.
Matt Hamlin is the managing partner of PierceGray. Based in New York, he leads the firm’s day-to-day operations as well as key client engagements, specializing in C-Suite placements in high-growth transformational environments. Prior to PierceGray, Mr. Hamlin was a management consultant focused on procurement and supply chain, gaining exposure to private equity during his time at Alvarez and Marsal. He has worked across nearly every industry sector, with search experience aligned to PierceGray’s functional offerings.
Recently Retained
PierceGray was recently selected by Four Wheel Campers to lead in its search for a new CEO. The CEO will have full responsibility for the business and will lead a workforce of 82 employees. They will partner with the management team, the board of directors and Salt Creek Capital on strategic planning, budgeting, capital allocation, financial structure optimization, and personnel requirements. The CEO will be accountable for the financial and service-level performance metrics of the business, including achieving year-over-year growth, and various KPIs and operations improvement targets. They will also be charged with preparing and leading the company towards a successful sale process in the next three to five years.
Four Wheel Campers is looking for candidates with 15+ years of experience in senior leadership roles in a manufacturing company with P&L>$100 million and national distribution. They should have experience in investor backed and high growth environments strongly preferred. Experience positioning a company and leading a successful sale to a strategic buyer or investor is also preferred.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor; Lily Fauver, Senior Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
