What does a hospitality CEO recruiter do? A hospitality CEO recruiter finds and places Chief Executive Officers and Presidents for restaurant groups, hotel companies, resorts, private clubs and investor-backed hospitality brands. CEO searches are usually confidential, involve owners, boards or investors at every stage, and rely on direct outreach to leaders who are not looking for a new job. JWB Hospitality is a boutique hospitality executive search firm that recruits CEOs nationwide for founders, ownership groups, boards, private equity firms and family offices.
At a glance: CEO searches typically take 60–120 days · 300+ hospitality placements · 95% offer acceptance · 20% of first-year base salary on contingency, no upfront retainer · 90-day replacement guarantee
No hire shapes a hospitality company more than its CEO. The right leader sets strategy, builds the executive team, protects the culture and is accountable to owners, boards or investors for growth and enterprise value. The wrong hire can cost years: leadership turnover, stalled expansion and lost value.
The strongest CEO candidates are almost never on the market. They are running successful companies today, and they will only consider a move through a confidential conversation. A specialist recruiter knows who those leaders are, can approach them discreetly, and can test their track record before you meet them.
Company leadership
Chief Executive Officer, President, Group President, Managing Director, Chief Growth Officer and Chief Operating Officer
Restaurant companies
Restaurant group CEO, multi-concept CEO, franchise CEO and hospitality brand President
Hotel and resort companies
Hotel company CEO, resort group CEO, hospitality management company CEO and portfolio executive
Investor-backed and transition roles
Private equity portfolio CEO, founder successor CEO, growth CEO and turnaround executive
Hiring below the CEO level? See C-suite and senior executive search.
Restaurant groups
CEOs who can scale brands, protect consistency across units and improve unit economics as the group grows.
Hotel and resort companies
CEOs who understand ownership, asset management, guest experience and revenue performance across properties.
Private clubs
Leaders who balance member experience, board governance, capital planning and long-term stewardship.
Hospitality management companies
CEOs who can drive performance across a diverse portfolio and grow the client base.
Founders, boards and investors
Private equity firms, family offices and founders appointing a first professional CEO, a successor, or a leader for the next stage of growth.
Client names are kept confidential.
We assess every CEO candidate on the results owners, boards and investors care about:
Strategy that was executed
A record of setting a growth strategy and delivering it, not just describing it.
Financial results
Revenue growth, margin and EBITDA improvement, budgeting, capital planning and expansion, with numbers we can verify.
Leadership bench
The executives they hired and developed, and whether those leaders stayed.
Growth and scale
Opening new markets, adding units or properties, acquisitions and rebrands.
Stakeholder management
How they work with founders, boards, investors, asset managers and their own teams.
References are checked with people who worked above, beside and below each candidate.
1. Discovery and stakeholder alignment
We meet the founder, board or investors to agree on the mandate, the results expected in the first 12–24 months, compensation and how success will be measured.
2. Market mapping
We identify CEOs and Presidents at comparable companies, segments and growth stages.
3. Confidential outreach
We approach leaders discreetly and share your company's name only with your approval. This matters when the current CEO is still in the role.
4. Assessment
Structured interviews, results verification and references focused on leadership, strategy, financial performance and fit with your culture.
5. Shortlist
A small shortlist with a written assessment of each candidate, not a stack of résumés.
6. Offer and transition
Support with compensation and equity terms, the offer, the resignation process and the first months in the role.
JWB Hospitality works on contingency: 20% of the placed CEO's first-year base salary, invoiced only when you hire. There is no upfront retainer. Every placement carries a 90-day replacement guarantee. If the CEO leaves or is let go within that period, we restart the search at no added fee.
Every CEO search is confidential by default. Not sure which model fits? Compare retained vs. contingency search.
What does a hospitality CEO recruiter do?
A hospitality CEO recruiter defines the role with the owners or board, identifies CEOs at comparable companies, approaches them confidentially, verifies their results and presents a short list of qualified finalists.
How long does a hospitality CEO search take?
Most CEO searches take 60 to 120 days, depending on the scope of the role, location and compensation.
How much does a CEO search cost?
Hospitality search fees commonly range from about 20% to 30% of first-year compensation. JWB charges 20% of first-year base salary on contingency, with no upfront retainer and a 90-day replacement guarantee.
Can you run a CEO search while our current CEO is still in place?
Yes. Confidential replacement searches are common. Candidates do not learn your company's name until you approve it.
Do you work with private equity firms and family offices?
Yes. We recruit CEOs for founders, ownership groups, boards, private equity firms and family offices.
Do you recruit CEOs nationwide?
Yes. JWB Hospitality recruits CEOs across the United States.
Tell us about the role. We will respond within one business day to schedule a confidential consultation.
Related: Hospitality CEO salary guide · C-suite and senior executive search
JWB Hospitality
Executive search for restaurants, hotels, resorts, private clubs, and hospitality brands nationwide.