Restaurant Executive Search Firm Trusted by Leading Restaurant Brands for More Than 50 Years
Wray Executive Search is one of the nation's leading restaurant executive search firms, helping restaurant organizations recruit CEOs, COOs, CFOs, CMOs, CHROs, and other executive leaders who drive long-term growth. For more than 50 years, Wray Executive Search has served as one of the most respected restaurant executive search firms in the industry, partnering with restaurant brands to deliver high-impact restaurant executive search solutions for mission-critical leadership roles. From iconic national chains to fast-growing, multi-unit concepts, we help organizations build leadership teams that drive performance, resilience, and long-term value.
As a dedicated restaurant executive recruiter, Wray understands the operational complexity, cultural nuance, and leadership demands unique to the restaurant industry. Whether you are filling a mission-critical role, preparing for expansion, or planning for succession, our team helps you hire with confidence.
Trust Earned Through Decades of Success
96%
Search Completion Rate
94%
Offer Acceptance Rate
50+
Years as Industry Specialists
Restaurant & Franchise Executive Search
92%
Placement Retention Rate
21 Days
Average to 1st Vetted Slate of Candidate
Trusted Experts in Restaurant Executive Search
Your leadership team determines the success of your restaurant brand. For decades, Wray Executive Search has been the trusted partner for companies seeking proven restaurant executives who can navigate scale, complexity, and constant change. As one of the nation’s most experienced restaurant executive search firms, we understand what it takes to build leadership teams that strengthen operations, inspire teams, and position organizations for sustained growth.
Whether you’re scaling a fast-casual concept, revitalizing a full-service brand, or expanding a franchise platform, we connect you with leaders who understand the pace, accountability, and culture of the restaurant business.
Restaurant Segments We Serve
Quick Service Restaurants
Fast Casual
Casual Dining
Fine Dining
Multi-Concept Operators
Ghost Kitchens
Food Halls
Airport Dining
Private Equity Portfolio Companies
Proudly Serving the Restaurant Industry’s Leading Brands
Restaurant Executive Search Firm Case Studies
Executive Search Case Study: CEO for Growing Multi-Unit Restaurant Group
Executive Search Case Study: VP Operations for Multi-Concept Casual Dining
Executive Search Case Study: Controller for Multi-Brand Investment Group
Executive Search Case Study: COO Multi-Brand Restaurant Group
Executive Search Case Study: President High-Growth Restaurant Brand
Executive Search Case Study: Chief Marketing Officer Regional Quick-Serivce Restaurant Brand
Restaurant Executive Recruiters for Leadership Roles That Matter
From concept to corner office, Wray Executive Search supports restaurant organizations in identifying leaders who shape strategy, culture, and performance. We specialize in placing executives who bring both functional expertise and enterprise-level leadership.
Our executive recruiters for the restaurant industry regularly place leaders in roles including:
Restaurant Chief Development Officer Executive Search
Restaurant CIO Executive Search
Each candidate is rigorously evaluated for experience, leadership judgment, cultural alignment, and readiness to deliver results from day one
The Wray Advantage
Wray Executive Search brings unmatched depth to restaurant executive search
6 Points of Distinction
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Our Leadership
Our leading consultants bring substantial senior-level experience.
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Wide Scope
Wray Executive Search offers a wide scope of industry knowledge and experience. We provide a wide array of services and have an extensive network in these arenas.
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Impactful Expertise
The cross-functional, wide-reaching expertise our company provides can have a deep impact on your business. We serve client needs internationally, nationally, regionally and locally.
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Unique Guarantees
We offer a full one-year replacement guarantee ensuring that our candidates will bring value long term. If, for some reason, the hired candidate does not work out, we will find a replacement.
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Diverse Consultants
Our consultants bring varied experience from all segments of the industry. We offer broad-based, cross-functional expertise to enhance our partnership.
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Competitive, Comprehensive Rates
There are no surprises when it comes to our fees. We maintain highly competitive performance-based rates founded upon our robust executive search record.
Our Team
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Kevin Stockslager
Managing Partner
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Ray Kelley
Managing Partner
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Rebecca Patt
SVP & Partner
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Bob Gershberg
Executive Advisor
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Joe Radice
Advisor
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Jonathan Kelley
Vice President of Recruiting
We Are More Than Restaurant Headhunters, We are Industry Experts
Successful restaurant leadership requires far more than general management experience. The restaurant industry operates under intense pressure—thin margins, complex labor models, real-time operational demands, and constant brand exposure. Leadership decisions are highly visible, and missteps are costly.
As experienced restaurant executive recruiters in the industry for 50+ years, Wray Executive Search evaluates candidates through a lens that reflects these realities. We look beyond resumes to assess operational judgment, leadership presence, adaptability, and the ability to perform in fast-moving, multi-unit environments.
This depth of understanding is what separates true restaurant executive search from restaurant headhunters or traditional restaurant management headhunters. Our role is not simply to fill positions, but to help restaurant companies secure leaders who elevate the organization for years to come.
Restaurant Executive Search for Every Stage of Growth
Restaurant brands evolve quickly, and leadership needs shift as organizations grow. Our restaurant executive search practice supports companies at every stage of the business lifecycle.
We partner with:
Founder-led and emerging concepts building their first executive teams
Growth-stage brands preparing for expansion or franchising
Mature organizations navigating leadership transition or succession
Private equity–backed platforms focused on scalability and value creation
Unlike firms focused solely on filling open roles, Wray Executive Search helps clients identify leaders who are right for the current stage of the business and capable of leading what comes next. This strategic perspective allows restaurant companies to make leadership decisions that support stability, growth, and long-term success.
A Proven, Disciplined Approach to Restaurant Executive Search
Our approach to restaurant executive search is intentionally rigorous, discreet, and relationship-driven.
Every engagement begins with a deep discovery process to understand your organization’s goals, leadership gaps, and cultural dynamics. We assess not only what the role requires today, but what it will demand as the business evolves.
From there, we leverage our national network and long-standing industry relationships to identify and engage executives who are not actively seeking new roles—but who consistently deliver results in complex restaurant environments.
Throughout the search, clients benefit from clear communication, honest market insight, and guidance shaped by decades of restaurant-specific experience. The outcome is leadership placements that create lasting value well beyond the initial hire.
Leadership transitions are inevitable, but leadership crises don't have to be.
Whether driven by retirement, expansion, private equity investment, mergers and acquisitions, or unexpected turnover, every restaurant organization will eventually face the challenge of replacing key executives. Yet many companies wait until a leadership vacancy occurs before beginning the search process, forcing rushed decisions that can disrupt operations, weaken culture, delay growth initiatives, and reduce enterprise value.
The strongest restaurant brands approach executive succession planning differently. Rather than reacting to leadership changes, they proactively develop succession strategies that ensure continuity, strengthen their leadership pipeline, and prepare the organization for long-term success.
At Wray Executive Search, we help restaurant companies move beyond simply filling executive vacancies. We help organizations build leadership teams that are prepared for what comes next.
Restaurant Executive Succession Planning
Restaurant Leadership Transitions Are Accelerating
Our recent Restaurant & Hospitality Executive Succession Planning Study found that executive turnover is no longer a distant concern—it's an immediate business priority.
Among restaurant and hospitality organizations surveyed:
Nearly 60% expect to replace at least one C-suite executive within the next 18 months.
39% have no identified internal successors for any executive leadership position.
Only 15% have a formal executive leadership development program in place.
These findings reveal a significant gap between recognizing the importance of succession planning and being truly prepared for executive transitions.
For growing restaurant organizations, leadership readiness has become a competitive advantage—not simply a human resources initiative.
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Succession planning is far more than identifying who might take over when an executive retires.
An effective restaurant executive succession strategy evaluates both current leadership and future organizational needs while ensuring the business has access to exceptional executive talent whenever leadership changes occur.
Successful succession planning typically includes:
Identifying business-critical leadership positions
Evaluating internal executive talent and leadership readiness
Benchmarking internal candidates against external executive talent
Developing high-potential leaders
Preparing emergency and long-term succession plans
Understanding current executive market conditions
Creating leadership continuity that supports sustainable growth
Rather than making leadership decisions under pressure, organizations gain confidence knowing they have evaluated every available option before critical vacancies occur.
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One of the most common succession planning mistakes is assuming the next internal leader is automatically the best leader.
Internal candidates often possess invaluable organizational knowledge, established relationships, and cultural familiarity. However, external executives may bring specialized experience, new perspectives, operational expertise, or leadership capabilities that better support the organization's next stage of growth.
The goal is not to replace internal talent.
The goal is to make the most informed leadership decision possible.
As part of our executive search process, Wray Executive Search helps restaurant organizations objectively compare internal successors with external executive candidates. This benchmarking process provides leadership teams and boards with confidence that every succession decision reflects both the organization's current needs and its future strategic direction.
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Many organizations begin succession planning only after receiving a resignation.
By then, valuable time has already been lost.
Restaurant organizations should begin succession planning well before leadership transitions occur, particularly during periods of significant change, including:
Rapid growth or franchising expansion
Private equity investment
Mergers or acquisitions
Founder or CEO transition planning
Executive retirement planning
Organizational restructuring
Geographic expansion
Increased operational complexity
Proactive succession planning reduces organizational disruption while giving companies the flexibility to evaluate leadership options thoughtfully rather than reactively.
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Executive search and succession planning work best when they operate together.
While leadership development helps organizations prepare internal talent, executive search provides an objective view of the external market. By combining both perspectives, organizations gain a clearer understanding of whether current leaders are positioned to support future business objectives or whether additional experience may better accelerate growth.
Beyond recruiting, Wray Executive Search helps restaurant organizations:
Benchmark executive talent against the broader market
Evaluate leadership competencies and organizational fit
Assess executive readiness for larger leadership responsibilities
Identify emerging leadership gaps
Build long-term succession strategies
Provide confidential market intelligence on executive talent
The result is stronger executive hiring decisions, greater leadership continuity, and a more resilient organization prepared for future growth.
Build Your Leadership Team with Confidence
Choosing the right leadership team is one of the most important decisions a restaurant organization can make. With more than five decades of experience and a deep understanding of the restaurant industry, Wray Executive Search is a partner you can trust.
If you’re ready to engage a restaurant executive recruiter who understands your business and your future, we’re ready to help.
If you are looking to be considered for opportunities, go to our candidate page and submit your resume.
Frequently Asked Questions About Restaurant Executive Search
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Restaurant executive search is a specialized recruiting process focused on identifying, evaluating, and placing senior leaders within restaurant organizations. Unlike traditional recruiting, executive search targets highly qualified executives—many of whom are not actively seeking new opportunities—for leadership roles such as CEO, COO, CFO, CMO, CHRO, Chief Development Officer, and other senior positions. A retained restaurant executive search firm combines industry expertise, leadership assessment, and confidential outreach to identify executives capable of driving long-term growth.
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A restaurant executive recruiter helps restaurant companies identify and hire executive leaders who align with their strategic goals, culture, and growth plans. Beyond sourcing candidates, executive recruiters evaluate leadership capabilities, industry experience, cultural fit, and long-term potential while managing a confidential search process from start to finish.
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Traditional recruiting often focuses on filling active openings with candidates who are actively searching for jobs. Restaurant executive search is a retained, research-driven process designed to identify exceptional executives who may not be on the market. Executive search firms also provide leadership assessment, succession planning support, market intelligence, and strategic hiring guidance.
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Although the terms are often used interchangeably, restaurant executive search firms provide a significantly more strategic service than traditional headhunters. Executive search firms conduct in-depth organizational assessments, evaluate leadership competencies, benchmark internal and external candidates, and manage a structured recruitment process designed to produce long-term leadership success rather than simply filling an open position.
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Restaurant executive search firms support organizations across nearly every segment of the industry, including:
Quick-service restaurants (QSR)
Fast casual brands
Casual dining
Fine dining
Family dining
Multi-unit operators
Franchise organizations
Restaurant holding companies
Hospitality groups
Private equity-backed restaurant platforms
Emerging restaurant concepts
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Franchise development organizations benefit most from executive search firms with deep restaurant and franchise expertise. Firms that understand franchise operations, multi-unit growth, development strategy, operations, marketing, finance, and leadership succession are better positioned to identify executives capable of supporting long-term franchise expansion.
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Restaurant brands experiencing rapid franchising growth should seek executive search partners with extensive industry relationships, national reach, proven franchise recruiting experience, and the ability to identify executives who have successfully scaled multi-unit organizations. Experience recruiting across operations, development, finance, marketing, and executive leadership becomes increasingly valuable as brands expand.
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Multi-unit restaurant organizations frequently engage executive search firms for:
CEO recruitment
COO recruitment
CFO recruitment
Chief Development Officer recruitment
Franchise operations leadership
Human resources leadership
Succession planning
Leadership assessment
Executive benchmarking
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The best restaurant executive search firms combine deep industry specialization, national executive networks, structured assessment processes, and decades of restaurant leadership recruiting experience. Organizations evaluating executive search partners should consider industry focus, completion rates, retention rates, executive relationships, and experience supporting brands at similar stages of growth.
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Franchise-focused executive search firms recruit leaders with expertise in franchise development, operations, marketing, finance, real estate, supply chain, and multi-unit management. These firms understand the operational complexity and growth strategies unique to franchise organizations.
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Restaurant organizations face unique leadership challenges including labor shortages, operational complexity, thin margins, franchising, private equity ownership, and rapid growth. The strongest restaurant executives are typically already employed and rarely apply for open positions. Successful executive recruitment requires extensive industry relationships, confidential outreach, and the ability to evaluate leadership beyond a résumé.
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Many restaurant companies reach a point where growth outpaces leadership capability. Without experienced executives, organizations often struggle with scaling operations, maintaining culture, improving profitability, integrating acquisitions, or expanding franchise systems. Specialized restaurant executive search helps identify leaders with experience navigating these exact challenges.
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Restaurant executive search firms improve leadership quality by expanding access to passive executive talent, conducting rigorous leadership assessments, evaluating cultural alignment, benchmarking candidates against the broader market, and identifying executives with proven success in similar restaurant environments.
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While every search is unique, most restaurant executive searches are completed within several months. The timeline depends on the complexity of the role, candidate availability, geographic considerations, and organizational requirements. A structured executive search process prioritizes quality and long-term fit over speed alone.
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Restaurant executive search firms typically operate on a retained fee structure based on the level of the position being filled. While fees vary, organizations should evaluate executive search as a long-term investment in leadership rather than simply a recruiting expense. Hiring the wrong executive often costs significantly more than conducting a comprehensive search.
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Restaurant executive recruiters commonly place:
Chief Executive Officers (CEO)
Chief Operating Officers (COO)
Chief Financial Officers (CFO)
Chief Marketing Officers (CMO)
Chief Human Resources Officers (CHRO)
Chief Growth Officers (CGO)
Chief Development Officers (CDO)
Chief Information Officers (CIO)
Chief Technology Officers (CTO)
Vice Presidents of Operations
Franchise Development Leaders
Supply Chain Executives
Culinary Leadership
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Restaurant organizations undergoing operational turnarounds often benefit from retained executive search. Turnaround situations require executives with demonstrated experience improving profitability, restructuring operations, leading organizational change, rebuilding culture, and restoring sustainable growth.
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Emerging restaurant brands should partner with executive search firms that understand entrepreneurial growth, concept expansion, franchise readiness, leadership development, and organizational scaling. Early executive hiring decisions frequently shape a brand's long-term trajectory, making industry expertise particularly valuable.
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Yes. Many restaurant executive search firms support succession planning by benchmarking internal leaders against external talent, assessing leadership readiness, identifying future leadership gaps, and developing proactive succession strategies that minimize disruption during executive transitions.
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There is no universal answer. Strong organizations evaluate both internal and external candidates before making executive hiring decisions. Internal leaders often bring valuable organizational knowledge, while external executives may contribute new perspectives, specialized expertise, and experience navigating similar growth challenges. Comparing both options helps organizations make more informed leadership decisions.
Restaurant Executive Search Firm vs. Restaurant Headhunters: What's the Difference?
While the terms restaurant executive search firm, restaurant executive recruiter, and restaurant headhunter are often used interchangeably, they do not all represent the same level of service. Understanding the differences can help restaurant organizations choose the right partner when hiring leaders who will shape the future of the business.
At Wray Executive Search, we believe executive hiring should be a strategic investment—not simply a recruiting transaction.
Restaurant Executive Search Firms Take a Strategic Approach
A restaurant executive search firm serves as a strategic advisor throughout the hiring process. Rather than simply filling an open position, executive search firms work closely with leadership teams to understand business objectives, organizational culture, long-term growth plans, and the leadership qualities required for success.
The process typically includes:
Defining the leadership profile and success criteria
Conducting national market research and talent mapping
Identifying and recruiting passive executive candidates
Assessing leadership capabilities and cultural alignment
Managing confidential outreach and candidate evaluation
Supporting negotiations and onboarding
This comprehensive approach helps restaurant companies hire executives who create lasting organizational value rather than simply meeting today's immediate need.
Restaurant Recruiters and Restaurant Headhunters Typically Focus on Filling Open Roles
Traditional restaurant recruiters, restaurant headhunters, and restaurant management recruiters often focus primarily on sourcing candidates for existing vacancies. While many provide valuable recruiting support, their process is generally centered on identifying available talent rather than conducting a comprehensive leadership search.
For executive-level positions, limiting the candidate pool to active job seekers often means overlooking many of the industry's strongest leaders.
The most successful restaurant executives are typically already leading high-performing organizations and are not actively applying for positions. Reaching these executives requires established industry relationships, confidential outreach, and a proactive search strategy.
Retained Restaurant Executive Search Provides Access to Exceptional Leadership Talent
Most leading restaurant executive search firms operate on a retained search model. Unlike contingency recruiting, retained search allows consultants to conduct an exhaustive, research-driven process focused entirely on finding the best long-term leader—not simply the first available candidate.
A retained search provides:
Dedicated search resources
Confidential executive outreach
Broader access to passive candidates
Comprehensive leadership assessment
Objective candidate benchmarking
Ongoing strategic guidance throughout the hiring process
For critical leadership positions, this disciplined process significantly improves the likelihood of a successful long-term placement.
Leadership Assessment Goes Beyond the Résumé
Experience alone does not guarantee executive success. An experienced restaurant executive search firm evaluates candidates across multiple dimensions, including:
Executive leadership capabilities
Operational expertise
Financial and business acumen
Strategic decision making
Communication and executive presence
Cultural alignment
Ability to lead organizational growth and change
This deeper evaluation helps organizations identify leaders who can thrive within their unique culture while supporting long-term business objectives.
The Best Restaurant Leaders Are Usually Passive Candidates
One of the greatest advantages of partnering with a restaurant executive search firm is access to passive talent. Many of the industry's most accomplished CEOs, COOs, CFOs, CMOs, CHROs, and development leaders are already succeeding in their current organizations. They are rarely searching job boards or responding to job postings.
Instead, they become open to new opportunities through trusted relationships, confidential conversations, and compelling career opportunities presented by experienced restaurant executive recruiters.
By engaging passive candidates, restaurant executive search firms dramatically expand the available talent pool and increase the likelihood of identifying the best executive—not simply the most available one.
Why Restaurant Companies Choose Executive Search
Whether you're hiring a CEO to lead your next phase of growth, a COO to strengthen operations, or a CFO to support private equity expansion, choosing the right search partner matters.
Unlike traditional restaurant management headhunters, Wray Executive Search combines more than 50 years of restaurant industry expertise with a disciplined retained search process, executive leadership assessment, and a national network of restaurant executives. The result is a more strategic hiring process—and stronger leadership teams built for long-term success.
