Berkeley Search Consultants CPG Practice: Building Brands and Teams with Purpose

At Berkeley Search Consultants, our Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) practice is grounded in deep industry expertise, thoughtful partnership, and a strong track record of placing leaders who drive growth, innovation, and operational excellence. We specialize in working with a wide range of companies across the consumer landscape, from early-stage startups to high-growth manufacturers and hospitality leaders delivering impactful talent solutions across Sales, Marketing, Product Development, Quality, Operations, Finance, and Supply Chain.

Jean Spear, CPG Practice Leader

At the helm of the practice is Jean Spear, a respected voice and trusted advisor in the CPG space. With more than a decade of executive search experience, Jean has built long-standing partnerships with mission-driven brands across the natural food, plant-based, wellness, and sustainable goods sectors. Her unique combination of market insight, strategic acumen, and values-based leadership has made her an invaluable partner to founders, executives, and HR leaders alike.

Jean’s hands-on approach, paired with her ability to understand both the technical requirements and cultural nuances of a role, has consistently led to long-term, high-retention placements. Whether supporting a scaling startup navigating its first round of institutional funding or a legacy brand reinventing its go-to-market strategy, Jean and the team deliver with precision, empathy, and results.

As a committed plant-based consumer and wellness advocate herself, Jean brings genuine alignment to the brands she serves. Her reputation for quality, responsiveness, and long-term thinking has earned her the trust of clients across North America.

Angie Brouwers, Director of Recruiting

Angie brings over a decade of full-cycle recruiting experience across highly regulated and dynamic industries, and plays a critical role in candidate engagement, vetting, and closing.

Angie is known for her ability to build trust quickly with both clients and candidates. She ensures that every search is executed with thoroughness and clarity, guiding candidates from the first conversation to onboarding with transparency and care. Her diligence and communication style are core to our success in fast-paced, competitive talent markets.

Together, Jean and Angie have developed a cohesive, efficient, and deeply personalized search process that consistently delivers high-caliber talent aligned with each client’s goals, values, and culture.

Who We Serve

We partner with a diverse and growing portfolio of clients across:

• Startup and emerging brands in plant-based, natural food, beauty, and wellness
• Mid-size and established food and beverage manufacturers (fresh, frozen, and shelf-stable)
• Hospitality, restaurant groups, and foodservice innovators
• Private equity-backed and founder-led companies navigating transformation or growth

Our searches span across key leadership functions, Marketing, Operations, Finance, Quality, Innovation, Regulatory, and more, with successful placements ranging from Director to C-suite.

What Sets Our Practice Apart

• Boutique approach with national reach – Our structure allows for high-touch, nimble service, while our network gives us reach across the U.S.
• Deep sector specialization – The team’s focus and experience in the CPG space allow us to understand market shifts, hiring trends, and talent movement in real time.
• Long-term partnerships – Many of our clients have worked with us for years and across multiple hires. We are often called in as thought partners, not just recruiters.
• Values-driven alignment – We work best with purpose-driven companies that prioritize transparency, sustainability, innovation, and equity.
• Full-cycle excellence – From role scoping and org design advising to candidate delivery and post-placement follow-up, our process is built for quality and longevity.

Our Impact

Over the years, the CPG practice has helped:

• Place leadership teams in high-growth startups preparing for exit or Series B/C scale
• Support family-run or legacy food brands as they modernize operations and go digital
• Partner with hospitality and foodservice groups navigating post-COVID growth and consumer shifts
• Introduce diverse and inclusive leadership pipelines into traditionally homogenous sectors

We don’t just fill roles, we help companies strengthen their culture and shape their future leadership.

Let’s Connect

Whether you’re a founder scaling quickly, a PE-backed operator building a leadership team, or a legacy brand seeking transformation, our team is ready to support you.

• Jean Spear – VP & CPG Practice Lead | jspear@berkeleysearch.com | 510‑898‑9316
• Angie Brouwers – Director of Recruiting, CPG Practice | abrouwers@berkeleysearch.com | 510-898-9315