Household & Industrial Cleaning Executive Search Expertise
Kelham Partners delivers retained executive search for companies manufacturing and distributing ingredients used in household and industrial cleaning products. We work with surfactants suppliers, formulation specialists, and performance additive innovators across global markets to build commercial, technical, and regulatory leadership teams that deliver results.
From green chemistry pioneers to global producers of commodity raw materials, we understand the complex balance between performance, cost-efficiency, regulatory compliance, and sustainability that defines this sector, and we recruit the talent who can navigate it.
Who We Support
We work across the value chain of industrial and performance chemistry, including
- Surfactants & emulsifiers
Anionic, cationic, nonionic, amphoteric - Chelating agents & builders
Phosphates, citrates, EDTA alternatives - Preservatives, biocides & antimicrobials
Synthetic and natural - Enzymes & boosters
For stain removal, degreasing, odour neutralising - Fragrance ingredients & sensory agents
Long-lasting freshness & brand identity - Sustainable & biodegradable cleaning actives
Plant-derived materials, low-impact chemistries - Industrial & institutional (I&I) cleaning applications
Healthcare, food service, facilities, heavy-duty
Whether your customers are global CPG brands or industrial formulators, we find senior talent who can connect commercial, technical, and regulatory priorities.
Typical Roles We Recruit
We specialise in international recruitment across
- Commercial
BU Directors, Global KAMs, Category Managers, Sales Leaders - Innovation & R&D
Heads of Formulation, Application Chemists, Technical Marketing Managers - Regulatory & Safety
Product Stewardship, Regulatory Affairs Heads (REACH, BPR, TSCA) - Operations & Supply Chain
Plant Managers, Procurement & Planning Leaders - Executive Leadership
Country Managers, GMs, Division Heads, VP Commercial
Global Reach with Technical Depth
We understand the difference between commodity and value-added cleaning solutions — and the leadership capability required to deliver in each. From technical sales in I&I markets to innovation heads driving sustainable home care, we recruit across EMEA, North America, and APAC.
As specialist recruiters in cleaning and care ingredients, we combine scientific fluency with executive search discipline to deliver talent that fits your market and mission.
Case Study
EMEA Sales Director – Cleaning & Care Ingredients
Client
A global producer of surfactants and additives for the household care and I&I cleaning sectors, seeking growth in EMEA through increased direct sales and application support.
Brief
Hire an EMEA Sales Director to lead multi-country sales teams, build customer intimacy with top CPG clients, and lead technical-commercial integration across the region.
Challenges
- Needed both commodity surfactant experience and customer-facing formulation understanding
- Required experience in matrix organisations and regional team leadership
- High travel role with a focus on high-margin client relationships
Our Approach
We ran a retained search focused on senior sales leaders from cleaning ingredients, personal care actives, and I&I formulation backgrounds. We prioritised candidates with deep technical-commercial fluency and established customer relationships.
Outcome
The successful hire joined from a competing surfactants manufacturer and brought a strong blend of formulation insight and sales performance. Within 12 months, regional sales grew by 19% and two new product lines were introduced into Tier 1 customer portfolios.
Hiring in the household or industrial cleaning ingredients space?
We’d love to help you find senior leaders who can drive growth and build long-term partnerships.
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