WELCOME TO
THE RIVET GROUP
​We Build Sponsor-Grade Leadership Teams for Middle-Market Industrial Companies.
We help PE-backed and privately held industrial companies hire operators who execute—not just interview well. We understand that the wrong hire can cost you 12–24 months of momentum and millions in valuation. When the stakes are this high, precision matters.
WHO WE WORK WITH
Built for companies where execution matters:
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Private Equity-backed portfolio companies
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Founder-led and family-owned industrial companies
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Manufacturing, logistics, and Industrial distribution businesses
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Late stage startups
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Companies scaling from ~$20M to $250M+ in revenue
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What do these companies have in common? They need leaders who can step in and deliver results.
THE PROBLEM WE SOLVE
At your stage, hiring mistakes aren't small. They're expensive.
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Growth stalls because leadership can't execute
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Strong cultures erode with the wrong hire
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"Great resume" candidates can fail in real environments
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Searches drag on while gaps in leadership drag on the company
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We fix that by focusing on operators, not optics.
Executive Search Built for Real-World Operators
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We specialize in placing leaders who:
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Have run teams, not just managed functions
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Understand throughput, margins, and operational pressure
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Can step into imperfect environments and drive results
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Build a strong foundation for scale - through organic growth or acquistion
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Align with ownership expectations - whether PE, founder, or family-held
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Typical Roles:
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CEO/President/Country Manager/General Manager
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COO/VP/Director of Operations
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CRO/VP/Head of Sales
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CFO/VP of Finance
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CPO/CHRO
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Supply Chain/Logistics Leadership
HOW WE WORK
A disciplined, operator-focused search process:
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Define the Role Around Business Reality
We align the role with your actual challenges—not a recycled job description. -
Map the Talent Market
We identify proven operators in comparable environments. -
Engage Passive Candidates
We recruit leaders who aren’t applying—but are open to the right opportunity. -
Pressure-Test Fit
We evaluate candidates against execution ability, culture, and ownership expectations. -
Close with Precision
We manage the process to secure the right hire—not just any hire.
DELIVERING RESULTS
Examples of recent searches and the outcomes:
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Placed a VP of Operations at recently acquired high-precision manufacturer: improved throughput and production in the US and promoted to global COO within six months.
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Recruited Sales Leader for a PE-backed growth-stage industrial: Increased global sales by 26% in first year, on pace for 30% growth this year.
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Built the leadership team for a family-office owned capital equipment manufacturer. On target to acquire multiple companies in 2026 and on pace for an IPO in 2027/28.
FOR PRIVATE EQUITY FIRMS
We help portfolio companies execute the investment thesis.
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Build leadership teams aligned with sponsor expectations
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Move quickly without sacrificing quality
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Idenify operators with proven experience in executuion in all market conditions who can scale with the business.
FOR CANDIDATES
We work with experienced leaders in industrials, manufacturing, and distribution with all disciplines. Want to know how we can help you land your next role?