Leadership for restaurant brands that are building something.
David Ulrich Associates finds executives for restaurant and franchise operators. Our LEAP advisory team helps those same operators scale, integrate acquisitions and build a stronger leadership bench.
Two ways we help you build the team
Leaders for every seat, from restaurant managers to the C‑suite.
We place operations, finance, HR and development leaders with restaurant and franchise brands. Every search is exclusive and built around your culture, and every placement is backed by our guarantee.
See how we searchSenior expertise without the full-time headcount.
LEAP gives growing operators access to experienced executives in talent, transformation, growth and performance, on a fractional basis. Bring us in for an acquisition, an expansion push, or the stretch before your next full-time hire.
Explore LEAP
We know the business you're hiring for
We speak restaurant.
Food cost, labor models, franchise agreements, unit economics. We understand what the job actually demands, so the candidates we bring can do it on day one.
We interview the whole person.
A resume shows where someone has been. Our conversations show how they lead, how they handle pressure, and whether they fit your culture.
We stay after the hire.
We check in with you and your new leader well after the offer is signed. Over half of our clients are leaders we once placed, who came back to hire through us.
Every search is built for the seat you're filling
Before the search
We learn the role, your culture and what success looks like in the first year, then build the candidate profile from that.
The interviews
In-depth conversations about each candidate's career, wins and leadership style, about two hours per candidate on VP-level and above searches. We learn pay expectations up front, so offers don't fall apart late.
After the hire
We check in with both sides so the placement holds. You also get a live search dashboard with every candidate's profile and pay expectations.
The DUA Performance Guarantee
If a placement doesn't work out in that window, we replace them.
Full terms are outlined in your engagement agreement.
Growth creates complexity. LEAP brings clarity.
Most operators don't need another consultant. They need executives who have already been through growth, acquisitions and reorganizations. LEAP puts that experience on your team, for as long as you need it.
David digs into the values and culture of the business, not just qualifications, and that's what determines a quality search firm.
“When you need to get the job done right, hire a professional. David gets it done.”
“I am so impressed with this team's dedication, expertise and commitment to growing brands.”
The people you'll work with
Meet the team
Looking for your next role?
See the searches we're running now, or join our confidential talent network and we'll reach out when the right role opens.
Tell us what you're working on.
Whether you have a leadership seat to fill or a growth plan that needs senior hands, a quick call is the fastest way to find out if we're the right fit.