JRG Partners is proud to partner with a premier, globally recognized consumer durables company in their search for a transformative President, North America. Our client is a leader in design, innovation, and manufacturing, with a rich history of creating products that enhance the lives of consumers. Based in the dynamic manufacturing hub of Grand Rapids, Michigan, they are poised for their next chapter of significant growth and market leadership.
We are seeking an exceptional executive leader with the vision, strategic acumen, and operational expertise to steer the North American business to new heights. This is a rare opportunity to take the helm of a well-established and respected brand, shaping its future trajectory in a rapidly evolving marketplace. The ideal candidate will be a results-driven leader, a culture builder, and a commercial strategist capable of navigating complexity and inspiring excellence across the entire organization.
This pivotal role demands a leader who can balance long-term strategic planning with the immediate needs of a fast-paced commercial enterprise. You will be tasked with not only maintaining the company’s strong market position but also identifying and capitalizing on new avenues for growth, whether through product innovation, channel expansion, or strategic acquisitions. Your leadership will directly impact thousands of employees and millions of consumers across the continent, making this a role of significant influence and responsibility.
Role Overview for President, North America with a Consumer Durables Company – Grand Rapids, MI
The President, North America, is the most senior executive role for the region, holding complete P&L responsibility and serving as the primary architect of the company’s regional strategy and success. Reporting directly to the Global Chief Executive Officer, this individual will be a key member of the global executive leadership team, contributing to the overall corporate vision while ensuring its successful implementation within the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This leader will be responsible for defining the long-term vision, setting ambitious growth targets, and ensuring flawless execution across all business functions, including sales, marketing, operations, product development, and finance.
The President will act as the public face of the company in North America, embodying its values and strengthening its brand presence with key stakeholders, including major retail partners, industry associations, and the financial community. Success in this role will be measured by sustainable revenue growth, increased market share, enhanced profitability, and the development of a high-performing, engaged, and agile organization prepared to win in the competitive consumer durables landscape.
Key Responsibilities of President, North America with a Consumer Durables Company – Grand Rapids, MI
Strategic Planning and Execution
Develop and articulate a clear, compelling strategic vision for the North American market that aligns with the global corporate strategy. Translate this vision into actionable, multi-year strategic plans and annual operating plans. Lead the organization in executing these plans with precision and agility, adapting to market shifts and competitive pressures.
Full P&L Ownership
Assume complete accountability for the region’s financial performance, including revenue, gross margin, operating expenses, and net profit. Drive financial discipline throughout the organization, ensuring resources are allocated effectively to achieve strategic objectives and deliver maximum return on investment.
Commercial Leadership & Channel Strategy
Oversee all commercial activities, including sales, marketing, and customer service. Develop and implement sophisticated multi-channel strategies that optimize presence and performance across e-commerce, big-box retail, specialty stores, and B2B channels. Nurture and expand relationships with key retail partners while aggressively growing the direct-to-consumer (DTC) business.
Brand Stewardship and Marketing Innovation
Champion the brand across North America, ensuring consistent messaging and a premium customer experience at every touchpoint. Drive innovative, data-driven marketing campaigns that build brand equity, engage consumers, and generate qualified demand. Embrace digital transformation in marketing to reach new audiences and deepen customer loyalty.
Operational Excellence and Supply Chain Oversight
Collaborate closely with global operations and supply chain leaders to ensure product availability, quality, and cost-effectiveness. Drive continuous improvement initiatives within the regional operations to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve customer satisfaction, from forecasting and inventory management to logistics and fulfillment.
Product Strategy and Go-to-Market Execution
Partner with global product development teams to provide critical market insights and influence the product roadmap for North America. Lead the regional go-to-market strategy for all new product introductions, ensuring successful, impactful launches that capture market share and excite consumers.
Leadership and Organizational Development
Build, lead, and mentor a world-class senior leadership team. Foster a culture of high performance, collaboration, accountability, and continuous innovation. Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to create a workplace where all employees can thrive and contribute their best work.
Market Intelligence and Competitive Analysis
Maintain a deep, nuanced understanding of the consumer durables market, including emerging technologies, consumer behavior shifts, and the competitive landscape. Use this intelligence to identify new growth opportunities and potential threats, developing a robust disruptive innovation strategy to stay ahead of the curve.
Stakeholder and Relationship Management
Cultivate and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with key customers, strategic partners, suppliers, and industry influencers. Represent the company with professionalism and integrity in all external interactions, including industry events, media interviews, and investor relations support.
Requirements for the President, North America with a Consumer Durables Company – Grand Rapids, MI
Executive Experience
A minimum of 20 years of progressive leadership experience, with at least 5-7 years in a General Manager, President, or divisional CEO role with full P&L responsibility for a business unit exceeding $500M in annual revenue.
Industry Expertise
Deep and demonstrable experience within the consumer durables, consumer electronics, or consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry. Must have a strong understanding of manufacturing environments, complex global supply chains, and multi-channel retail ecosystems.
Educational Background
A Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering, or a related field is required. A Master of Business Administration (MBA) from a top-tier institution is highly preferred.
Proven Track Record of Growth
A clear and demonstrable history of driving significant top-line and bottom-line growth in a competitive market. Experience with both organic growth and growth through strategic partnerships or M&A is a plus.
Commercial Acumen
Expertise in developing and executing successful commercial strategies across diverse channels, including direct-to-consumer (DTC) e-commerce and complex partnerships with major national retailers (e.g., Home Depot, Lowe’s, Best Buy, Amazon).
Inspirational Leadership
A proven ability to attract, develop, and retain top talent. A leader who can inspire and motivate a large, diverse organization and foster a positive, high-performance culture. Must lead by example with high integrity and a strong work ethic.
Strategic and Analytical Skills
Exceptional strategic thinking capabilities, with the ability to analyze complex data, identify key insights, and make sound, data-backed business decisions. Must be able to move seamlessly between 30,000-foot strategic thinking and ground-level execution.
Financial Acumen
A strong command of financial statements, budgeting, forecasting, and key performance indicators (KPIs). Experience managing significant capital and operating budgets is essential.
Communication and Influence
Superior communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills. The ability to effectively influence and build consensus among a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including a global executive team and board of directors.
Location
Must be based in or willing to relocate to the greater Grand Rapids, Michigan area.
Benefits & Perks Offered
Our client offers a compensation and benefits package commensurate with the executive nature of this role, designed to attract and retain a top-tier leader. This includes:
- A highly competitive executive compensation package including a substantial base salary, an aggressive annual performance-based bonus, and a meaningful long-term incentive plan (e.g., stock options, restricted stock units).
- A comprehensive benefits package including premium medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your eligible dependents.
- A robust 401(k) retirement savings plan with a generous company match to help you plan for your future.
- Significant paid time off (PTO), including vacation, sick days, and company holidays, to support work-life balance.
- A comprehensive relocation assistance package for the successful candidate and their family to ensure a smooth transition to Grand Rapids.
- Executive-level perquisites, which may include a car allowance, club memberships, and executive financial planning services.
- Opportunities for continued professional development, including executive coaching and participation in industry leadership forums.
- A generous employee discount program on the company’s entire portfolio of world-class products.
How to Apply
This is a confidential, retained search conducted exclusively by JRG Partners. If you are a visionary leader with a passion for building great brands and a proven history of driving exceptional business results, we invite you to submit your resume and a cover letter for consideration. This executive position represents a career-defining opportunity to lead a major player in the consumer durables industry and make a lasting impact. JRG Partners is a leader in connecting exceptional talent with transformative opportunities; you can explore our expertise in the Consumer & Retail executive search space to learn more about our work and commitment to excellence. To apply, please proceed through the application link provided. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. We look forward to reviewing your qualifications.
