Building leadership teams for the UK’s breakout consumer brands.
Suma is a founder-led executive search firm for venture-backed consumer brands, backed by an invite-only network of operators who've done it before.
Founder
I've hired these roles myself.
I co-founded Apex Rides and built the team to 30+, and every senior hire came through me. Getting Apex into thousands of homes was only possible because of the people we hired. That's why I know what the right hire is worth. The Apex story
Suma places the same roles into venture-backed consumer startups. CFO, COO, CMO, Head of Customer, full-time or fractional.
Startups move fast and can't afford a bad executive hire.
I deliberately take on a very small number of searches at a time and run each one myself. Every candidate is scored on the same five traits, and you only see a shortlist I'm sure is worth your time. How I run a search, or start with a Senior Hire Review.
You're likely already in a great role, and your reputation is everything.
The network is invite only. Most people join through a referral from someone already in it, and I meet everyone myself before they're introduced to a founder.
Your details never go to a company without your say-so, and most of the roles are never advertised. If no one has referred you, you're still welcome to request an invitation.
Useful whether or not you hire through me.
UK Consumer Investor Map
The 40 most active backers of UK consumer brands, and who raised in the last 12 months. Updated every quarter.
See the mapExecutive interview scorecard
The scorecard I use on every search: five traits, the questions to ask and how to take references.
Get the scorecardSalary and equity benchmarks
What consumer startups pay a CFO, COO, CMO and Head of Customer, from seed to Series B.
See the benchmarksHiring guides
When to hire a CFO, your first finance hire, fractional or full-time, and executive equity at seed and Series A.
Read the guidesSuma Says.
One email every other Wednesday. Founders can read it to keep an eye on the neighbours. Execs can see where the next role's coming from.