Celebrating
23 Years
Of MBB Search
Founded 2001
A Strategist built network:
Transitioning and former McKinsey, Bain, BCG
Private Equity and U.S. based corporations trust HAMMER HALEY with
their most critical Strategy-centric hiring needs.
Since our founding in 2001, we've focused solely on delivering great search outcomes. A great search outcome is only a great search outcome when all stakeholders cross the finish line together and in the desired timeframe. Our partner led search-execution takes all the variability out of our work. We're experts at our niche and system, everyone wins.
For 22 years now, we've stayed in our lane, continuously improved, and refined our system to be in step with the changing needs and requirements of business and retained search. Our consistent history of mandates across industry, and repeat clientele, lend trustworthiness to the enduring integrity or our model.
Search is a people business. Our professional relationships and connectivity within our niche is second to none. Sure, there are plenty of firms with researchers and support personnel routinely pinging the marketplace. For us, search starts with reaching out to known candidates familiar with our firm. If we don't know someone within our space, we're generally only one degree away.
We're specialists, and a boutique firm. We run hard from the get-go. There's no wasted time green fielding a market map and researching the space. Many years ago, dating back to our inception, we turned search upside down. Our goal has always been to know candidates within our niche prior to any transactional event occurs with clients. We're always ready to mobilize. Let's go.
Great search outcomes have many stakeholders. There are the obvious participants on any search. More often than not, referrals are a big part of paving the way. We treat all market participants alike and with the respect and humility deserved. The golden rule applies in our world. As we've stated, search is a people business, all day, every day.
We travel, but not for bake-offs. If you've made the decision to retain us and there's benefit to meeting in person versus unified communications, we're game and willing to gather in real-time. There's no pushback here. Let's do what's right for setting up a great search outcome.
For VP+ search, if your preference is for us to meet in person with the candidate short-list prior to our formal presentation, consider it done. We'll meet candidates where they are and not hold up the search delivery timeframe. We utilize video calls as standard practice.
After 22-years of head down work in the trenches, we've seen repeating patterns of behavior from participants comprising the MBB marketplace. No two clients or assignments are alike; however, we're able to spot and anticipate candidate tendencies while remaining objective and curious.
In the fall of 2016, Hammer Haley ran an extensive beta alongside our typical full-service engagements. We reverse engineered the search process and retained the front-end service. This service was commercialized in 2017 and offers and economical alternative for clients seeking talent at the profession band, career level.
#1 for Corporate Strategy. Cross function to include: Chief of Staff, Corporate Business Development, Digital, Marketing, Finance, People & Operations
Operating strategists dedicated to supporting investment professionals and portfolio companies to identify and deliver on operating companies performance goals
From general management to operations effectiveness and growth, strategists delivering on sector and segment specialization
A-player ListGen for PE MBBx participant contributors
Our well established network represents the best and brightest strategic minds in business. This collective of transitioning and former consultants holds a wide array of industry and sector exposures and knowledge. The bulk of our mandates are initiated at the client by former management consultants who have previously experienced our work and cadence in the marketplace. Strategy has no bounds; our clients and placements cross industries and sectors.
Our Consumer knowledge is a well-versed path. We speak the language of Consumer Product, Tech, Media & Entertainment, and Travel.
We've had significant exposure to the challenges and demands of today's retail world. Whether it be growth strategy, store ops, supply-chain, pricing, ecommerce, or omnichannel, we've been there. Our store knowledge traverses grocery, drug, department, mass merchandiser, warehouse, specialty, discount and quick serve.
Fintech is all the rage. We're in tune with the changing landscape, especially in Payments. We've also been deeply embedded in Consumer, Retail, and Commercial Banking. Rounding out our exposures, Wealth Management, and Insurance – personal lines, commercial lines, and brokerage.
From Life Science and MedTech to Payor/Provider, we've worked with Corporate Strategy, Strategic Marketing, and Portfolio Management teams.
"Technology is eating the world." It would be hard to be in our business without daily exposure to discussions around tech. Consumer Tech, Enterprise Tech, Fintech, EdTech, MedTech, AgTech, AdTech, and IoT. We've teamed with the Disrupted and Disruptors.
From Research and Business Services to Advanced Industries and Industrials, we've tackled assignments across Enterprise Strategy, BU Strategy, Operations, Marketing & Sales, and Innovation.
We come alongside investment professionals, operating partners, and portfolio company leadership as they implement value-creation strategies involving growth, digital transformation and operations.
With our network comprised of transitioning and former management consultants, we operate intensively in the professional services world. We understand and navigate the challenges of recruiting for clients with large downstream customer pools.
Since 2001, Hammer Haley has teamed with clients and candidates to achieve great search outcomes across functions and purview where the Strategist toolkit is valued. When your hiring need solves for one or more of these areas, consider it inside the lines of our expertise and consistent with our history. Illustrative examples within our portfolio are provided below.
SVP, Corporate Strategy
Capital One
Partner
Accenture
Director, Strategic Planning Group
American Express
Chief of Staff, CEO
Russell Investments
Director, Consumer & Package Insights
PepsiCo
Sr Director, Strategy & Business Development
Expedia
MVP, Corporate Development
Capital One
Director, M&A
IAC / InterActiveCorp
Director, Finance
Applied Materials
Sr Director, Bus Dev & Strategic Alliances
Hotels.com
President
Third Bridge
GM, Head, North America
Finalta
SVP, Commercial Banking Sales Strategy
National City Bank
Sr Director, Strategy - Retirement Products
Allstate
SVP, CFO Retail Bank
Capital One
Director, Community Experience
PayPal
Director, Strategic Initiatives & Market Planning
Viking
Managing Director, Sector Strategy
JobsOhio
Principal
Green Peak Partners
Group Manager, Marketing Strategy
Boston Scientific
VP, Strategy & Implementation
Fortis Bank
VP, People Analytics
Capital One
Director, PMO
Genentech
Sr Manager, Revenue Strategy
Heineken
VP, Manufacturing & Supply Chain
Omnipod
As we celebrate our 22nd year, the partners at Hammer Haley are reflecting on the winning formula for a great search outcome for all stakeholders. We're sharing our educated point of view gathered from keen observation and people relationships over many years of partner led search in the trenches.
Mike has transitioned to founding a job search coaching and career advisory firm, where he leverages his extensive search and industry knowledge to guide individuals in their career journeys.
During his 23-year tenure as a Managing Partner, Mike endeavored to deliver exceptional search outcomes for all stakeholders. He piloted 250 successful engagements across various industries, sectors, and functions. In addition to leading client projects, he contributed to numerous in support.
Mike graduated from Southern Methodist University with a B.B.A. He's married with grown children and lives in Saint Louis, MO.
Shannon joined Hammer Haley in 2020, bringing nearly two decades of successfully led recruitment projects to the team. Her successes span from Management to Executive level within the Strategy, Accounting, and Finance functions in a variety of industries, including technology, financial services, life sciences, and energy.
Prior to joining Hammer Haley, Shannon founded her own boutique recruiting firm, Trio Search, where she was a trusted talent advisor to publicly-traded and privately held clients. Her organization became well known for identifying, attracting and delivering high performing candidates, and becoming a strategic partner to Trio clients. Her extensive network includes "big four" professionals, stemming from her earlier career at KPMG. Shannon strategized with Audit, Tax, and Advisory leaders at KPMG on setting and achieving critical talent acquisition goals.
Shannon graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington, where she also participated in their Division I softball team. In her spare time, she enjoys spending quality time with her three children, coaching soccer and baseball, and volunteering with local food banks.
Chris joined Mike Gozon as a founding partner of Hammer Haley in 2002. For the past two decades, Chris has been committed to delivering great search outcomes for all stakeholders, every time.
Chris has led successful search engagements for over one hundred unique clients, ranging from corporations and private equity to PE portfolio companies. Many of these clients have circled back with additional assignments over the years. His work spans industry, career levels, and functions. Chris is best known for his expertise in delivering on corporate strategy, digital transformation, and leadership advisory consulting roles.
Growing up in rural Mount Vernon, WA, Chris opted for life as an adventurer, post-college. From backpacking thru Thailand and driving a potato harvester combine in North Dakota to being a “Hot Shot” in the National Forest Service and owner's liaison for the buildout of Gillette Stadium - home of the New England Patriots, Chris fulfilled his desire to explore and expand his world view. More traditional, but as important in his professional development were successful stints with Fidelity Investments and a pre-IPO, e-commerce play in the pulp and paper industry.
Chris is a graduate of Pomona College with a B.A. in philosophy. He resides in Denver, CO with his wife and two sons. In his spare time, he's been active in the community coaching soccer and baseball.
