Slayton Search Partners Grows Consumer Practice
November 5, 2026 – Slayton Search Partners has expanded with the addition of Karen Ouchterloney as vice president and managing principal in the firm’s consumer practice. “We are pleased to welcome Karen to Slayton Search Partners,” said Richard Slayton, CEO and managing partner. “Her combination of firsthand operating experience with leading consumer brands and more than 13 years advising clients on executive search gives her a perspective that is genuinely rare in this market. Karen’s deep understanding of the financial and operational rhythms that drive high-performing retail organizations will be a meaningful asset to the clients we serve in the consumer space.”
Ms. Ouchterloney brings more than three decades of combined experience in retail merchandising and planning, leadership and executive search, with deep expertise across retail, e-commerce and consumer-facing organizations. Her background bridges two distinct areas of expertise. Earlier in her career, she held senior merchandising and planning roles at some of the most recognized names in consumer retail. At Coach, where she spent more than eight years, she held leadership responsibilities across merchandise planning, buying strategy, and team development for North American retail and e-commerce. She subsequently served as head of merchandising for Easy Spirit Retail and E-commerce at Nine West Group and held planning roles at J.Crew and Macy’s East.
Building on that operating foundation, Ms. Ouchterloney joined Kirk Palmer Associates in 2013, where she spent more than thirteen years advancing from senior associate to senior principal. In that role, she partnered with CEOs, senior executives, and private equity sponsors on C-suite and senior leadership searches across retail and consumer businesses, with particular depth in finance and merchandising, as well as marketing, operations, supply chain, and general management.
In her new role, Ms. Ouchterloney will advise organizations navigating leadership transitions in retail, e-commerce and consumer-related functions. She will partner closely with clients to identify leaders who elevate financial discipline, operational effectiveness and cross-functional alignment across the consumer sector.
“I am excited to join Slayton Search Partners and contribute to a firm with such a strong reputation for delivering exceptional outcomes for its clients,” she said. “The depth of expertise across the consumer industry here is a genuine differentiator, and I look forward to partnering with clients and colleagues to place leaders who will drive lasting impact in their organizations.”
Related: Slayton Search Partners Announces Promotions
Established in 1985, Slayton Search Partners is an executive search firm serving clients across multiple industry verticals including consumer, distribution, financial services, industrial, insurance, private equity, and retail. The firm specializes in C-level executive placements and leadership functions including CEO and P&L, diversity, finance, human resources, marketing and sales, supply chain, strategy, sustainability, and technology. Founded with a commitment to delivering exceptional talent solutions, Slayton Search Partners maintains offices in Chicago and serves clients nationally.
Past Addition
Earlier this year, Slayton added David Turner as executive vice president in the firm’s consumer practice. Mr. Turner has more than two decades of distinguished leadership in executive search, operations, and strategic consulting within the food and agriculture sectors. His career spans significant accomplishments in both executive search and operational leadership.
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Mr. Turner spent 14 years at Kincannon & Reed, a global search firm specializing in food and agriculture, where he advanced from principal to president before being appointed chairman of the board in 2024. His work focused on identifying and placing transformational leaders who drove innovation and strategic growth across the food and agriculture value chain.
Before his executive search career, Mr. Turner built substantial operational expertise as leader of PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Canadian agribusiness practice and through multiple domestic and international leadership positions at Cargill. “This hands-on experience provides him with unique insights into the operational challenges and opportunities facing organizations in the sector,” Slayton Search Partners said. Mr. Turner currently serves as a global board director for the Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC).
Related: Slayton Search Partners Expands Senior Staff
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
