Company Name

Confidential - (Industrial Distributor)

Search Job Title

Director of Supply Chain

Client Profile

A private-equity-backed industrial equipment distributor and rental company with over 30 years in business. Headquartered in Pennsylvania, operates branch locations in Texas, Virginia, and Iowa. The company carries roughly 7,000 SKUs and serves customers across shipbuilding, chemical, and infrastructure sectors. With about 70% of revenue derived from distribution and 30% from rentals, The company has transitioned from a founder-led organization to private equity ownership, ushering in a new CEO and an ambitious growth strategy to quadruple revenue within four years through both organic expansion and M&A.

Role Objectives & Challenges

This role reported directly to the CEO, overseeing approximately $25M in annual spend and managing procurement, supplier relationships, inventory strategy, and adoption of NetSuite ERP and WMS functionality.

Key challenges included:

- Rationalizing an oversized SKU base and improving fill rates.

- Building stronger supplier relationships to leverage purchasing power.

- Optimizing the newly implemented ERP system, Netsuite.

- Recruiting in Pasadena, TX—an area with heavy oil & gas competition and limited candidate mobility.

- The client also faced confidentiality constraints since the incumbent was still employed, requiring discretion in outreach and candidate engagement.

Our Approach to Solve the Search

Given the sensitive nature of this replacement search, SCM Talent Group conducted a highly targeted, low-visibility campaign. We focused on identifying supply chain and procurement leaders from adjacent industrial distribution sectors—particularly abrasives, coatings, and industrial consumables—while steering clear of direct competitors due to non-compete restrictions.

The search centered on candidates capable of overseeing multi-facility operations, implementing process discipline, and optimizing supplier negotiations. Leveraging our deep industry network, we narrowed a field of roughly three dozen prospects to a slate of six qualified candidates. Close collaboration with the CEO and CHRO ensured transparent communication and a unified decision-making process.

The Hire & Results

Two finalists were invited for on-site interviews, both well-aligned to the company’s operational and cultural needs. The selected hire came from an indirect competitor in a related industrial segment, bringing extensive procurement and systems-integration experience from a larger organization. They were eager to join a smaller, PE-backed company where they could directly influence transformation and growth.

With regular CEO involvement and disciplined coordination, the search concluded in just 40 days from kickoff to signed offer—a seamless, confidential replacement that positioned the company for accelerated supply chain modernization.