Trusted Executive Search for Chemicals & Ingredients
At Kelham Partners, we partner with ambitious businesses in the chemicals, ingredients, and regulated manufacturing sectors to deliver retained executive search with speed, precision, and care.
Whether you’re leading a commercial transformation, scaling into new regions, strengthening post-investment, or replacing a critical leadership role, we help you attract and secure the best possible talent — discreetly and professionally.
Who We Work With
We support senior hiring across
- Speciality Chemicals & Advanced Materials
- CASE, Polymers & Plastics
- Industrial & Performance Chemicals
- Pharmaceutical, Nutraceutical & Cosmetic Ingredients
- Food, Beverage & Animal Nutrition
- Contract Manufacturing (CDMO/CMO/Toll Manufacturing)
- Distributors & Value-Added Suppliers
- Private Equity Portfolio Companies
Our clients range from PE-backed scale-ups to global manufacturing groups, all operating in highly technical, regulated environments where leadership makes the difference.
Our Approach
Our process is structured, transparent, and insight-driven
- Brief & Discovery
Deep dive into your business, team, goals, and leadership expectations - Search Strategy & Market Mapping
Competitor analysis, talent landscape, and sourcing plan agreed up front - Outreach & Engagement
Discreet, targeted outreach led by a specialist — not a junior researcher - Assessment & Shortlist
Every candidate is briefed, referenced, and benchmarked against clear criteria - Offer & Onboarding Support
We manage the close, notice, and start — and stay close during transition
We act as an extension of your team, representing your brand professionally and persuasively to top-tier candidates across the globe.
We operate a partnered search model, built for leadership hires where the stakes are high, the requirements are nuanced, and the best candidates are unlikely to be actively on the market.
What We’re Known For
Technical Fluency
We understand your markets, your materials, and your customers
Commercial mindset
We know how leadership drives P&L, margin, and strategic value
Private equity alignment
We understand speed, precision, and value creation expectations
Global delivery
Searches completed across EMEA, North America & Asia
Direct, transparent, and proactive communication
We don’t hide from difficult conversations
Case Study Highlights
Hired a VP Commercial
for a CDMO entering North America — now managing $40M in revenue
Placed a Regional GM
to consolidate EMEA sales for a coatings business — improved margin by 14%
Rebuilt a leadership team
for a newly acquired feed additives company — 3 hires across commercial, operations, and quality in under 90 days
Secured a Head of Innovation
Innovation for a clean-label food ingredient scale-up — brought 3 new products to market within 9 months
Want more examples? We’ll share relevant case studies on our intro call.
Let’s Talk
We don’t take every brief, and we don’t believe in transactional recruitment. But when we partner with you, we go all in.
If you’re hiring into chemicals or ingredients, we can help.
Submit a BriefBook a CallDownload Our Capabilities Deck