Executive Search Success Story: Global CPG Brand Portfolio Transformation — CPG CMO Search

How JRG Partners executed a confidential Chief Marketing Officer search for a leading consumer packaged goods company modernizing its brand strategy across a multi-category consumer portfolio.

The Challenge

A leading consumer packaged goods company with a diverse portfolio of established brands was undergoing a major transformation of its marketing organization. The company operated across multiple consumer categories and retail channels and had built significant brand equity over several decades.

Changing consumer preferences, increased competition, and the rapid growth of digital channels created new demands for marketing leadership. The CEO and Board required a Chief Marketing Officer capable of modernizing brand strategy while protecting the equity of established consumer brands and establishing a more integrated approach across brand, sales, product development, commercial, and executive leadership.

Why They Chose JRG Partners

CPG Marketing Executive Search Expertise

JRG Partners provided access to senior marketing executives across CPG, consumer products, retail, e-commerce, brand management, and global marketing organizations.

Access to Passive CMO Talent

Targeted market mapping and discreet executive outreach identified passive CMO candidates with relevant brand and category experience who were not actively seeking new opportunities.

Brand Portfolio & Consumer Marketing Expertise

The search emphasized brand portfolio strategy, consumer insights, category management, positioning, product innovation, retail and digital marketing, analytics, engagement, and commercial strategy.

Confidential Search Execution

The CMO search was highly sensitive because of the executive’s expected visibility, requiring strict confidentiality throughout the entire process.

The Search Strategy

Phase 1 — Leadership Assessment

JRG Partners worked directly with the CEO, Board, and Human Resources leadership to define the ideal profile aligned with the long-term portfolio and growth strategy. The assessment focused on:

• Brand portfolio challenges and positioning requirements
• Consumer segmentation and marketing gaps
• Product innovation priorities
• Digital capabilities and analytics requirements
• Consumer insights and intelligence utilization
• Commercial alignment across functions
• Team structure and succession risks
• Future CMO leadership competencies

Phase 2 — Market Mapping

JRG Partners mapped global CPG companies, Fortune 500 consumer brands, household product companies, personal-care brands, food and beverage CPG organizations, retail-focused consumer businesses, consumer health companies, PE-backed CPG businesses, global brand organizations, and high-growth consumer companies across North America.

Phase 3 — Executive Engagement

Our consultants discreetly engaged senior marketing executives with proven records in CPG marketing, brand portfolio management, consumer insights, brand transformation, product innovation, category growth, retail marketing, digital marketing, consumer engagement, analytics, global brand strategy, and go-to-market strategy.

Phase 4 — Assessment & Selection

Finalists were evaluated across strategic CMO leadership, CPG expertise, portfolio management, consumer insights, brand positioning, product innovation, digital transformation, analytics, commercial collaboration, team building, cross-functional leadership, cultural alignment, and long-term leadership potential.