- OUR promise
Here to exceed your unique hiring and talent needs.
In the spirit of collaborating, connecting, and cultivating, our differentiators are rooted in building long-term, flexible, and transparent relationships with our clients, keeping their priorities every step of the way.
Keyhires' focus has been met with the purpose of having all of the capabilities of a larger firm while being more nimble and entrepreneurial in the marketplace. This is exhibited by our qualified people, innovative fee structures, and our focused service offerings in Executive Search and Talent Acquisition.
In conjunction with providing talent management services, we provide built-in advisory services with every search, including a detailed compensation analysis, a broader market and industry overview, and the assignment of an Executive Coach to provide onboarding and an accelerated transition for each placement.
- WHAT WE ARE SEEING
The hiring landscape has shifted.
Industrial companies are facing headwinds that make hiring harder than ever. These are the realities we help our clients navigate every day.
01
The leadership pipeline is thinning
Experienced executives are aging out of the workforce faster than successors are being developed. Many organizations have no bench strength behind their senior team, leaving critical roles exposed.
02
Vacancies stall growth
An open seat at the VP or C-suite level is not just an HR problem. Capital projects slow down, strategic initiatives lose their sponsor, and competitors gain ground with every month a role stays unfilled.
03
Competing for talent outside your sector
Tech, healthcare, and private equity are pulling from the same leadership talent pool. Industrial companies need a compelling value proposition and a fast, decisive process to win top candidates.
04
Legacy meets transformation
The leaders you need today must bridge traditional manufacturing operations with digital transformation, automation, and data-driven decision making. That profile is rare and highly sought after.
05
Confidentiality is
non-negotiable
Many senior searches cannot be made public due to competitive sensitivity, organizational restructuring, or leadership transitions. A discreet, experienced partner is essential.
06
Cultural fit determines retention
Placing a qualified leader who does not align with your organization's culture leads to costly turnover. Technical skills get someone hired, but cultural alignment is what keeps them.
- OUR SERVICES
Two core disciplines. One mission.
Focused expertise in finding and placing the leadership talent that drives your organization forward.
EXECUTIVE SEARCH
Consultants — not recruiters — who build a framework for compensation, retention, and long-term fit, backed by the same data and technology-enabled research behind every KeyHires search.
01 Engagement & discovery
02 Data-backed market research & candidate development
03 Assessment & presentation
04 Negotiation, close & onboarding
- OUR EXPERIENCE
Proven across industry leaders.
Select engagements that demonstrate our depth in industrial goods and services.
Grainger, Inc. is an industrial supply company headquartered in Chicago. They are the leading broad-line supplier of maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) products. Grainger offers more than 1.6 million quality in-stock products, a consultative sales approach, technical and product expertise, and a premium digital experience.
POSITIONS PLACED:
- Chief Information Security Officer
- Vice President, Group Product Manager
- Director, Sales
- Director, UX Design
- Senior Manager, UX
- Group Product Manager
Pernix Group is a leading construction company focused on general contracting, design/build, and construction management founded in 1994 and is based out of Lombard, Illinois.
POSITIONS PLACED:
- Chief Operating Officer
- Director, Business Development – Federal
- Director, Business Development – Commercial
Kohler is an American manufacturing company based in Kohler, Wisconsin. Their main line of business is plumbing products, but they also manufacture furniture, cabinetry, tile, engines and generators.
POSITIONS PLACED:
- Vice President, Operations
- Director, Operations
- Director, Supply Chain, Global Vitreous
- Supply Chain Improvement Manager
- Supply Chain Analytics and Design Manager
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill is an American architectural, interior design, urban planning, and engineering firm. They are one of the largest and most influential firms in the world. It was formed in Chicago in 1936 by Louis Skidmore and Nathaniel Owings; in 1939 they were joined by John O. Merrill.
POSITIONS PLACED:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Talent Acquisition Process
From engagement to integration.
The need for qualified senior level executives is drastically outpacing the supply.
- OUR INDUSTRIAL PRACTICE
Deep roots in industrial leadership.
Our Industrial Practice Group works in both mature and growing businesses supporting search mandates for C-Suite, Senior Executive, and key leadership appointments. Many of these searches need to be conducted in a confidential manner, which we are fully prepared to do.
Our experienced and specialized Industrial Consultants know the realities of the rapidly evolving globalization of the world of manufacturing. In addition, they recognize the importance of innovation, are living the speed of transformation in emerging markets and are daily assessing, motivating and recruiting world-class leaders, thereby ensuring success and breakthrough performance for our clients.
Our consultants bring a plethora of personal experience gained through both client search engagements and previous business operational experience with industrial organizations.
Regardless of the size and the corporate culture of your business, we have the team to provide outstanding candidates to fill your management search needs. Our industry expertise, professionalism, integrity, and high-touch processes enable our Industrial Team to gain credibility with clients, candidates, and industry leaders on a national basis.
- learn more
Expert Perspectives
Hear from our leadership team on the trends shaping today's hiring landscape.
A hiring misstep does not just impact one role. It affects productivity, operational continuity, team performance, and long-term growth. Managing Directors Morgan and Nick Layton discuss how leadership gaps ripple across an organization and why making the right hire is a strategic business decision.
A failed hire doesn’t stay internal—it sends a signal to the entire market. Competitors, candidates, and industry peers are watching. When a role needs to be refilled, it can erode credibility, “sour the well,” and make it harder to attract top talent. Getting the right leader in place from the start is critical to protecting both performance and reputation.
- YOUR point of contact
The person who knows your industry.
Title: Vice President, Sales
Email: nlayton@keyhires.com Phone: (847) 373-6520
About Nick Layton
Nick Layton is the Vice President of Sales at KeyHires, where he leads revenue growth, client acquisition, and strategic sales initiatives across the organization. Drawing on more than 15 years of experience in executive search and talent consulting, Nick partners with organizations to help them solve complex hiring challenges through data-driven talent acquisition.
Throughout his career, Nick has built a reputation as a trusted advisor who understands the intersection of business strategy and talent. His deep knowledge of the Industrial, Technology, and Financial sectors enables him to help clients identify opportunities, develop talent strategies, and build the teams necessary to support long-term growth.
Prior to joining KeyHires, Nick served as a Managing Consultant with Korn Ferry, where he led searches across corporate development, risk management, procurement, and financial planning and analysis functions.
Before Korn Ferry, Nick spent more than a decade with Stanton Chase International, conducting over 350 executive search engagements and supporting clients throughout the Midwest. Recognized for his leadership potential and business impact, he was selected for Stanton Chase’s prestigious High Potential Program, an initiative designed to develop the firm’s next generation of global leaders.
Nick earned his degree in International Business from Lake Forest College, where he was a member of the college’s golf team.
