Flavours & Fragrances Executive Search Expertise
At Kelham Partners, we specialise in retained executive search for global producers and distributors of flavours & fragrances — supporting critical leadership hiring across commercial, innovation, and technical functions.
We work with ingredient manufacturers, aroma chemical specialists, flavour houses, and functional additive suppliers to recruit executives who understand the nuance of sensory science, formulation support, and brand proximity — while delivering growth, performance, and technical leadership.
Whether you’re scaling in new markets, launching novel technologies, or replacing a key executive, we help you find senior talent that combines sector experience with business impact.
Who We Support
We partner with companies across
- Flavours & taste solutions
Sweet, savoury, masking agents, modulators, umami enhancers - Fragrance & aroma chemicals
Essential oils, aroma molecules, synthetic blends, naturals - Functional food & beverage additives
Emulsifiers, preservatives, acidulants, antioxidants - Fragrance ingredients for home, personal care, and fine fragrance
- Application & formulation labs
Co-creation teams and B2B development centres - Natural, bio-based, and sustainable alternatives
Clean label and eco-certifiable solutions
Clients include leading global flavour houses, fragrance ingredient innovators, and PE-backed suppliers with technical and brand-facing operations across EMEA, North America, and APAC.
Typical Roles We Recruit
We specialise in international recruitment across
- Commercial Leadership
Global KAMs, BU Directors, Regional Sales Heads, Category Managers - Innovation & Applications
Flavourists, Perfumers, Sensory & Application Scientists, R&D Directors - Regulatory & Product Compliance
IFRA, FEMA, REACH, GHS, food safety, global labelling - Operations & Supply Chain
Manufacturing Managers, Raw Materials Procurement, Planning Heads - Executive
General Managers, Division MDs, VP Commercial, CTO, Head of Global Flavour Creation
Trusted by Global Sensory & Additive Leaders
With complex formulation requirements, rapidly evolving consumer preferences, and increasing regulatory scrutiny, this sector requires senior leaders with deep expertise, cross-functional agility, and strong industry networks.
At Kelham Partners, we bring together technical understanding and international executive search capability to help you build high-performing leadership teams across your flavour, fragrance, and additive operations.
Case Study
Global Account Director – Flavour Ingredients Supplier
Client
A global flavour ingredients company supplying customised flavour solutions to major F&B multinationals and regional innovators.
Brief
Hire a Global Account Director to lead commercial strategy with one of the world’s largest beverage companies, managing innovation partnerships, pricing strategy, and multi-region contract negotiations.
Challenges
- Needed strong cross-functional capability (R&D, technical sales, supply chain coordination)
- Client’s business was heavily matrixed and required relationship-building across continents
- High expectation of “hands-on” experience with co-creation teams and in-market applications
Our Approach
We ran a retained search across EMEA and North America, targeting senior commercial leaders from flavour houses, aroma suppliers, and functional ingredient manufacturers with direct experience in complex global accounts.
Outcome
The successful hire had previously led strategic partnerships for a flavour company in both North America and Europe. Within 6 months, they renegotiated pricing structures, secured an extension on a global framework agreement, and launched two new collaborative projects with the client’s R&D team.
Hiring into flavours & fragrances?
We’d love to help you secure leadership talent with the creativity, technical fluency, and commercial drive to elevate your business.
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