Company Name

TopBuild Corp (now QXO)

Search Job Title

Vice President, Supply Chain

Client Profile

TopBuild Corp. is a leading installer of insulation and commercial roofing and a specialty distributor serving the construction industry across the United States and Canada. The organization operates through two primary segments: installation services and specialty distribution, supporting residential, commercial, and industrial end markets with a network of more than 450 branches.

Headquartered in Daytona Beach, Florida, the company has scaled rapidly through a combination of organic growth and acquisition, evolving into a decentralized operating model where corporate strategy supports execution across a wide network of field operations. With more than $6 billion in revenue and approximately 15,000 employees, the business continues to expand its footprint while investing in operational efficiency, supplier partnerships, and digital capabilities.

The company’s culture is grounded in a “branch support” philosophy, where corporate functions exist to enable field success. This creates a fast-paced, low-ego, highly collaborative environment focused on execution, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Role Objectives & Challenges

The Vice President of Supply Chain role was designed to lead and optimize the company’s end-to-end supply chain strategy, including procurement, pricing, logistics, fleet, inventory, and data-driven decision making. The position required close collaboration with operations, finance, and executive leadership to drive cost efficiency, scalability, and service performance across the enterprise.

A central challenge was the scale and structure of the organization. The company managed approximately $3 billion in annual procurement spend, with sourcing strategy centralized at headquarters while tactical purchasing and execution remained decentralized across hundreds of branch locations. This required a leader capable of balancing enterprise-level strategy with field-level realities, particularly in areas such as supplier allocation, pricing, and inventory flow.

Fleet and logistics operations added another layer of complexity. The organization maintained a highly diverse fleet of thousands of vehicles and assets, ranging from light-duty trucks to heavy equipment. Leadership recognized the opportunity to reevaluate this model, including potential shifts toward outsourced maintenance or alternative fleet strategies, and needed a leader who could bring both experience and fresh perspective.

Inventory and network strategy were equally nuanced. Without a traditional distribution center model, inventory was largely managed at the branch level, with intercompany transfers and localized decision-making playing a significant role. This created challenges in visibility, optimization, and consistency, particularly as the company continued to grow through acquisition.

Technology presented both opportunity and constraint. While the organization was not resistant to modernization, leadership emphasized a pragmatic approach, seeking solutions that delivered measurable value rather than adopting technology for its own sake. The role required someone capable of evaluating existing systems, including ERP and analytics tools, and identifying practical improvements that enhanced performance.

The profile itself was highly specific. The ideal candidate needed deep procurement expertise, experience managing large-scale spend, and the ability to operate within a decentralized, acquisition-driven organization. Just as important was the need for a hands-on leader who could engage directly with suppliers, field operations, and executive stakeholders while driving strategic initiatives across the business.

Our Approach to Solve the Search

The search required a highly consultative and targeted approach given the complexity of the role and the uniqueness of the operating model. The client trusted SCM Talent Group’s proven track record and deep understanding of the building materials and wholesale distribution sector, allowing the search team to take a leading role in refining the profile and shaping the overall strategy.

A national search was conducted due to the limited local talent pool and the requirement for relocation to Daytona Beach. The team initially focused on leaders within building materials distribution, wholesale supply chains, and supplier organizations supporting the construction industry. Particular emphasis was placed on procurement-heavy executives with experience managing large-scale spend and supplier relationships.

As the search evolved, it became clear that the most critical differentiator was not just industry experience, but alignment with the company’s operating model. The team refined its targeting to prioritize candidates with experience in highly acquisitive, decentralized organizations where corporate functions support a broad network of independently operating business units.

This shift in strategy enabled the identification of candidates who not only understood procurement and supply chain fundamentals, but also had direct experience integrating acquisitions, managing change, and operating within complex organizational structures. The result was a strong slate of candidates, including multiple finalists with distinct but highly relevant backgrounds.

The Hire & Results

The search was completed in approximately three months, delivering a successful placement of a senior supply chain leader who closely aligned with both the company’s operational model and its long-term growth strategy.

The selected candidate brought experience operating within a similarly structured, acquisition-driven organization, with a strong foundation in procurement, supplier management, and supply chain transformation. This alignment allowed the individual to quickly understand the nuances of balancing centralized strategy with decentralized execution while building relationships across the organization.

The client ultimately had multiple highly qualified finalists to choose from, providing confidence and flexibility at the decision-making stage. This depth of talent was a direct result of the targeted and consultative approach taken throughout the search.

Shortly after the placement, the organization entered a period of significant change, reinforcing the importance of hiring a leader capable of navigating complexity and driving stability through transformation. The selected executive was well-positioned to lead through this environment, leveraging both strategic vision and hands-on execution to support continued growth.

This engagement highlights SCM Talent Group’s ability to operate as a true advisory partner in complex executive searches. By combining sector expertise with a disciplined, consultative approach, the team successfully identified and delivered a leader capable of driving impact, managing change, and elevating supply chain performance in a rapidly evolving business environment.