The Tompkins Group
All Services
Retained Search

Executive Search

Your next executive hire will shape the trajectory of your organization. We conduct confidential, retained searches to find senior leaders who can scale brands, inspire teams, and deliver results.

Senior Roles We Place

We specialize in the leadership positions that drive strategy, culture, and growth for restaurant groups and hospitality companies.

C-Suite (CEO, COO, CFO)

Top-level leadership for restaurant groups, hospitality companies, and multi-brand portfolios. We find executives who set vision and drive results.

VP of Operations

The operational architect who scales systems, builds accountability structures, and ensures consistency across every location.

Corporate Chef

The culinary leader who develops menus, maintains brand standards, trains kitchen teams, and innovates across your portfolio.

Multi-Unit Directors

Leaders who oversee clusters of restaurants, develop GMs, and deliver results across multiple P&Ls simultaneously.

Director of Culinary

Strategic culinary leadership that bridges creative vision and business objectives. Leading initiatives on R&D, sourcing, and brand-wide menu strategy.

Confidential Process

Our Retained Search Process

Executive search is not transactional. It is a strategic partnership. Here is how we approach every engagement.

01

Confidential Discovery

We begin with a deep-dive session to understand your organization, growth plans, leadership gaps, and the exact profile of the executive you need. Everything is handled under strict confidentiality.

02

Targeted Sourcing

We leverage our executive network and conduct discreet outreach to passive candidates who are not actively looking but would be the right fit for your opportunity.

03

Rigorous Assessment

Candidates go through multi-stage evaluation including operational case studies, leadership assessments, cultural alignment interviews, and comprehensive background verification.

04

Shortlist & Presentation

You receive detailed candidate dossiers with our assessment notes, interview summaries, and a clear recommendation.

05

Offer & Onboarding

We manage the offer process, negotiate on your behalf, and provide structured onboarding support to ensure a smooth transition.

Why Executive Search Requires Operator Expertise

Hospitality is not like other industries. The executives who succeed in this business have a specific combination of skills that generic recruiters simply cannot evaluate.

We Speak the Language

When a candidate talks about their approach to labor optimization or menu engineering, we know if they actually understand it or if they are just using buzzwords.

We Know the Network

The best hospitality executives are rarely on job boards. They are running restaurants, leading teams, and building brands. We know where they are because we come from the same world.

We Assess What Matters

Generic executive recruiters evaluate leadership in the abstract. We evaluate whether someone can handle a union negotiation, a health department audit, and a dining room full of guests — all in the same week.

We Protect Your Brand

Executive searches in hospitality are sensitive. A leaked search can spook investors, staff, and competitors. We handle every engagement with the discretion it requires.

We Think Long-Term

We do not just fill a seat. We consider your three-year growth plan, your board expectations, and the leadership team dynamics to ensure a lasting fit.

Confidential executive search starts here

Let us discuss your leadership needs in confidence. Every conversation is protected, and every search is handled with the discretion your organization deserves.