The restaurant, retail, entertainment, and fitness industries are entering 2026 with strong momentum but increasing complexity. Brands are navigating shifting consumer behavior, rising operating costs, rapid digital transformation, and continued private equity investment. As a result, hiring priorities are evolving. Companies are no longer just looking for experienced operators, they are recruiting leaders capable of scaling organizations, driving disciplined growth, and building infrastructure that supports multi-unit expansion.
At Richard, Wayne & Roberts (RWR), we partner with consumer brands nationwide to recruit Director, Vice President, and C-suite roles across the restaurant, retail, fitness, and entertainment sectors. Based on our work with founder-led companies, private equity–backed platforms, and enterprise organizations, several key trends are shaping hiring in 2026.
Development Leadership Is a Top Priority
One of the most notable trends is the growing importance of real estate and development leadership. As brands expand across new markets, development strategy has become a major driver of both speed to market and long-term profitability.
Executives such as Chief Development Officers, VPs of Real Estate, and VPs of Construction are increasingly viewed as strategic leaders responsible for more than just development. These executives must align market planning, development timelines, and capital allocation with a company’s broader growth strategy.
For restaurant, retail, entertainment, and fitness brands pursuing aggressive expansion, strong development leadership helps organizations:
- Identify and secure high-performing locations
- Manage construction costs and timelines
- Build scalable pipelines for future openings
- Optimizing real estate portfolios across multiple markets
In many cases, the strength of a company’s development team determines whether a brand can expand efficiently or struggle with costly delays and underperforming locations.
Operations Leaders Who Can Scale Multi-Unit Brands
Operations leadership continues to be one of the most critical components of successful expansion. In 2026, organizations are prioritizing Chief Operating Officers, Presidents, and Vice Presidents of Operations who have experience managing complex multi-unit environments.
As brands grow from regional footprints to national platforms, operations leaders must build scalable systems that maintain consistency across dozens, or hundreds of locations. These executives play a key role in improving unit economics, strengthening field leadership teams, and ensuring operational excellence across corporate and franchise locations.
Companies increasingly seek operations leaders who have successfully scaled businesses through periods of rapid growth and understand how to balance expansion with operational discipline.
Marketing Leadership Focused on Customer Growth
Marketing talent is also evolving as consumer brands compete in an increasingly crowded and digital-first environment. Roles including Chief Marketing Officers and Vice Presidents of Marketing or Digital Growth are now responsible for driving measurable business outcomes, not just brand awareness.
Modern marketing leaders must integrate brand strategy with data-driven decision-making. This includes leveraging customer analytics, loyalty programs, digital acquisition channels, and omnichannel experiences to drive traffic and increase customer lifetime value.
In restaurants, retail, entertainment, and fitness brands, marketing executives who can connect brand positioning with revenue growth and customer retention are becoming some of the most valuable leaders in the organization.
Technology Leadership Supporting Scalable Infrastructure
Technology is playing a larger role in the customer experience and operational infrastructure of multi-unit brands. As a result, companies are increasingly hiring Chief Information Officers and Vice Presidents of Information Technology to lead digital transformation initiatives.
These leaders are responsible for modernizing systems, improving operational visibility, and implementing technologies that enhance both the employee and customer experience. From point-of-sale platforms and data analytics to mobile ordering and membership systems, technology leadership has become a critical enabler of scalable growth.
Private Equity Is Shaping Executive Talent Requirements
Private equity investment continues to influence executive hiring across restaurants, retail, entertainment, and fitness platforms. PE-backed companies typically pursue aggressive expansion strategies designed to increase enterprise value within a defined investment horizon.
This environment requires candidates who understand how to operate in growth-focused, performance-driven organizations. Leaders with experience scaling PE-backed platforms, building executive teams, and preparing companies for liquidity events are in high demand.
These leaders bring the strategic mindset and operational discipline needed to navigate rapid expansion while maintaining profitability and organizational structure.
Building Leadership Teams for the Future
As the competitive landscape evolves, the ability to recruit experienced leadership has become a defining advantage for consumer brands. At Richard, Wayne & Roberts, our Retail, Restaurant, Fitness & Entertainment market specializes in recruiting C-suite and VP-level roles across development, operations, finance, marketing, technology, human resources, and legal.
With more than 45 years of executive search experience, we help organizations build leadership teams capable of scaling multi-unit brands, executing aggressive growth strategies, and driving long-term enterprise value. If your organization is preparing for its next phase of growth, the right leadership team is critical.
Learn more about our Retail, Restaurant, Fitness & Entertainment executive search team and how we support consumer brands nationwide by visiting www.rwr.com.
