C-Level Executive Search & Executive Recruiters
Build the C-Suite Leadership Team Your Organization Needs for What's Next
Wray Executive Search helps restaurant, franchise, hospitality, foodservice, and other consumer-focused organizations recruit proven C-level executives. For more than 50 years, our C-level executive recruiters have built relationships with senior leaders across the industries we serve, giving our clients access to executives who often aren't actively pursuing another opportunity.
Whether you are replacing a critical executive, adding a new C-suite position, preparing for succession, or building the leadership infrastructure required for your next stage of growth, Wray helps you find executives prepared to lead what comes next.
CHRO Executive Search
Identify human resources executives capable of aligning talent strategy with business strategy, strengthening culture, developing leaders, and building the workforce infrastructure required for growth.
Chief Growth Officer Search
Find growth executives capable of bringing together strategy, marketing, development, partnerships, customer growth, and other commercial priorities.
CIO & CTO Executive Search
Recruit technology leaders who can modernize enterprise systems, strengthen data capabilities, evaluate AI and automation, improve cybersecurity, and align technology investment with business strategy.
Chief Development Officer Search
Identify development executives who can translate growth strategy into expansion. Depending on the organization, a Chief Development Officer may lead market development, franchise development, real estate, new-unit growth, partnerships, or other strategic growth initiatives. Wray evaluates candidates based on the specific development mandate and the capabilities required to move the organization forward.
CEO Executive Search
Recruit chief executives capable of setting enterprise strategy, building high-performing leadership teams, navigating ownership and board relationships, and creating sustainable enterprise value.
COO Executive Search
Identify operating executives who can translate strategy into execution, strengthen multi-unit performance, create scalable systems, and improve organizational accountability.
CFO Executive Search
Find financial leaders with experience across forecasting, capital allocation, unit economics, transactions, investor relationships, financial controls, and strategic decision-making.
CMO Executive Search
Recruit marketing executives who understand brand strategy, customer acquisition, digital growth, loyalty, consumer insights, and the connection between marketing investment and business performance..
Every C-suite search begins with a different business need. One organization may need a CEO capable of leading through a change in ownership. Another may need a COO who can bring greater discipline to multi-unit operations, a CFO prepared for private equity expectations, or a technology executive capable of modernizing systems and data infrastructure.
Our C-level executive search work spans leadership positions across the enterprise, including:
C-Level Executive Search for Critical Leadership Positions
Why C-Level Executive Search Requires More Than Traditional Recruiting
The executives most qualified to lead an organization are often not actively searching for another position. They are already leading companies, managing teams, delivering results, and building relationships within their industries.
C-level executive search therefore requires a proactive approach. Rather than relying primarily on applicants or existing candidate databases, Wray maps the relevant executive market, identifies qualified leaders, engages passive candidates, and evaluates executives against the organization's specific leadership mandate.
That broader view gives clients the opportunity to evaluate the strongest available leadership talent rather than limiting the search to executives who happen to be looking for a job.
Trusted by the top restaurant, hospitality, food service, & franchises in the world
C-Level Executive Search for Restaurant
and Franchise Organizations
C-suite leadership takes on additional complexity within restaurant, franchise, hospitality, foodservice, and multi-unit organizations. Executives must often lead distributed workforces, manage complex operating models, navigate tight margins, respond quickly to changing consumer behavior, and create consistency across locations or franchise systems.
Wray's experience in restaurant executive search and franchise executive search allows our consultants to evaluate senior leaders within the context of these industries. We understand the difference between functional experience and experience that translates successfully into complex multi-unit environments. For franchise organizations in particular, C-suite leaders may also need to influence independently owned businesses, maintain franchisee relationships, protect brand standards, support unit-level economics, and align corporate strategy with the health of the broader system.
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 of C-Suite Recruiters
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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
Why Organizations Choose Wray Executive Search
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.
For more than five decades, Wray Executive Search has built relationships with senior executives across the industries and functions we serve. Our consultants combine those relationships with targeted research, executive assessment, and a disciplined search process designed around each client's specific leadership needs.
We also understand that executive hiring decisions rarely exist in isolation. A new CEO can reshape the entire leadership team. A new CFO may change how an organization approaches growth and investment. A Chief Development Officer can redefine expansion strategy, while a CIO or CTO may change how technology supports the enterprise.
That broader perspective allows Wray to approach C-level search as a leadership decision rather than simply a recruiting assignment.
Build the C-Suite for Your Next Stage of Growth
The leadership team that brought an organization to its current stage may not be the same team required for what comes next. Growth, transformation, succession, investment, and changing markets can all create new demands at the executive level.
Wray Executive Search helps organizations understand those leadership needs and identify executives with the experience and capabilities to meet them. Whether you're replacing a critical leader, creating a new C-suite role, benchmarking internal talent, or preparing the organization for its next stage, our consultants can help you navigate the decision.
If you are looking to be considered for opportunities, go to our candidate page and submit your resume.
Frequently Asked Questions About C-Level Executive Search
What is C-level executive search?
C-level executive search is a specialized recruiting process used to identify and recruit senior executives such as CEOs, COOs, CFOs, CMOs, CHROs, Chief Development Officers, CIOs, CTOs, and other members of the executive leadership team.
What positions are considered C-level?
C-level positions typically include executives with "Chief" titles who hold enterprise-level responsibility, including Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Human Resources Officer, Chief Growth Officer, Chief Development Officer, Chief Information Officer, and Chief Technology Officer. The specific C-suite structure varies by organization.
What does a C-level executive recruiter do?
A C-level executive recruiter helps an organization define its leadership requirements, research the executive market, identify potential candidates, approach active and passive executives, evaluate their experience, and guide the organization through the selection process.
How is executive search different from traditional recruiting?
Executive search is typically more proactive and research-driven. Rather than relying primarily on applications from candidates actively seeking employment, executive search firms identify and directly engage executives whose backgrounds align with the organization's specific leadership needs.
Why use a specialized executive search firm for C-suite hiring?
C-suite appointments can have significant implications for strategy, culture, financial performance, and the broader leadership team. A specialized executive search firm provides market research, access to passive candidates, executive assessment, and an independent perspective throughout the hiring process.
How should companies evaluate C-level candidates?
Companies should consider functional expertise alongside leadership capability, stage-of-growth experience, cultural alignment, cross-functional influence, strategic thinking, team development, communication, and the candidate's experience addressing challenges similar to those facing the organization.
When should a company begin a C-level executive search?
Organizations may begin a search when a senior executive departs, when a future transition is anticipated, when growth requires a new leadership function, or when the existing C-suite does not have a capability required for the next stage of the business.
Do executive search firms recruit passive candidates?
Yes. Identifying and engaging executives who are not actively looking for another position is one of the primary distinctions of executive search.
Does Wray conduct C-level searches nationally?
Yes. Wray Executive Search works with organizations and executive candidates across the United States and conducts searches based on the leadership needs and geographic requirements of each engagement.
What C-level positions does Wray recruit?
Wray conducts searches across the executive leadership team, including CEO, COO, CFO, CMO, CHRO, Chief Growth Officer, Chief Development Officer, CIO, CTO, and other senior executive positions.