Irving Knight Group delivers executive search across 20+ core industries.

Home
Sectors
All Sectors Industrial Ingredients Life Science Healthcare Built Environment
Solutions
Retained Search Contingent Search PSL & RPO Services Executive Search Technical Search Sales Leadership Cost of a Bad Hire Talk to an Expert
About
About Us Mission Culture & Values Why Us Approach Testimonials
Jobs Team Why Us Contact Us
Irving Knight Logo

For more information on our HI&I services, get in touch with

...

Oliver Kiddy

Managing Director

Hundreds of 'Excellent' reviews

HI&I Executive Search

Helping HI&I companies unlock their next stage of growth

Specialisms We Cover

Antimicrobials Commercial Cleaning CPG Disinfectant FMCG Hard Surface Cleaning Household Industrial Institutional Janitorial JanSan Laundry Peroxides Sanitation Surfactants Warewash

Transparency and sustainability are now central to the HI&I cleaning sector, with the majority of consumers favouring brands that clearly communicate product safety, sourcing, and environmental impact.

The HI&I cleaning chemicals market is evolving rapidly as customers, regulators, and end users demand higher standards around safety, performance, and sustainability. Manufacturers are under increasing pressure to reformulate products, improve transparency, and meet stricter environmental and regulatory requirements, while still delivering effective, scalable solutions across commercial and industrial environments.

We understand the challenges of hiring across the entire HI&I value chain, from formulation and manufacturing through to regulatory, quality, and commercial leadership. Our industry-leading network spans innovative start-ups through to global Fortune 500 organisations. By combining sector insight with deep talent access, we help our clients build teams capable of driving compliance, innovation, and long-term growth.

Since 2019, the world has focused more than ever on industry leading commercial cleaning services.

Manufacturers and suppliers in this space develop solutions for professional, industrial, and institutional environments where efficacy, safety, and cost control must align. Product performance, formulation robustness, and adherence to standards all play a direct role in commercial success.

Building effective teams here depends on practical understanding of formulations, applications, and end-user demands. Bringing in people who have worked across real-world cleaning challenges supports consistent performance, customer confidence, and sustainable growth..
Case Study

Solving a year-long problem for a Fortune 500 leader

When our client came to Irving Knight with a VP-level hire, some recruiters may have been put off by the fact that the position had been open for more than a year with several other firms coming up empty. However, by using our knowledge of the cleaning vertical including which skills may transfer well from adjacent industries, we were able to source a great fit within weeks.

Case Study

Solving a year-long problem for a Fortune 500 leader

Following the success of this hire, our relationship has developed to the point that we are able to consult regularly on some of the most important, challenging hires in the company. Working in such a complex business structure certainly has challenges, but by approaching the relationship as a true partnership Irving Knight has added great value to every process.

Download the HI&I Brochure

Download our brochure

Learn more about our services, approach and the sectors we operate in.

Did you know?

Hiring the wrong candidate costs more than just time—it can waste salary, training resources, and opportunities. The Department of Labour estimates a bad hire can cost up to 30% of the role’s first-year earnings.

We hire right

Organisations are often reluctant to use external recruiters due the percieved cost. Think about it like this - what financial benefit could a top candidate bring to your business unit? You could make a 100x return on your investment.

  • 97% Placement Rate 1
  • 1.78:1 CVs Sent to Interviews 2
  • Avg. 32 Day Engagement to Placement 3

1. Based on all roles engaged on by a client on an exclusive basis from Jan 4 2025 - Dec 31 2025.

2. All CVs Sent from Jan 4 2025 - Dec 31 2025.

3. From Jan 4 2025 - Dec 31 2025.

Stats

387 active opportunities
1,908 placements made across 25 sectors
262,736 companies in our CRM

"At Irving Knight, we don't just fill positions; we build lasting partnerships. Our commitment to understanding your unique needs ensures that we deliver leaders who drive success and embody your company's values. When it comes to identifying the high-performers of tomorrow, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Our bespoke approach ensures every search is personal, diverse, and tailored from the ground up — delivering an individual, unrivalled experience for both clients and candidates. "

- Joe Davey, Group CEO of Irving Knight Group

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Daniel Villanueva

Key Account Manager

Joseph is a dedicated professional and a stand up person to work with. His patience and his understanding certainly s...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Kerry Maye

Regional Sales Manager

Working with Joseph was a wonderfully positive experience from our first contact, through acceptance of my job offer....

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Jon Steele

CFO, US

Grace taught an old dog some new tricks! I had been in my previous position for 30 years. I loved my job for most of...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Sandeep Kulshrestha

Formulation Director, US

Oliver is very good in matching skills of the candidates with the company’s requirements. I personally got benefits o...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Michel Cas

Sales Manager, France

Incredibly human oriented executive search, candidates handled with great care and respect, precise and concise infor...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Anja Florbach

Digital & Commercial Excellence Manager

Thank you so much Joseph! You have given me a great support. It was really nice to be in contact with you and I thin...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Corinne Grice

Strategic Account Manager, US

Luca was an absolute gem to work with ! He reached out to me on linkedin with several different opportunities & was a...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Brian Carpenter

VP Continous Improvement, US

Stewart was instrumental in helping me through this process and alleviating my concerns as I’ve been out of the workf...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Tim Staniels

Territory Sales Manager, US

Joseph was very easy to work with. He was motivated and attentive during his recruitment process, very responsive to ...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Guillermo Leal

Global Director of Pricing, US

I've worked with a few recruiters in the past but Oliver surprised me not only for his professionalism, excellent com...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Andreia Sa

Director, Italy

I would like to sincerely thank Evan Ball for all the support throughout the process. He provided assistance at diffe...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Sara Benoit

Regional Account Manager, US

Irving Knight Group is a fantastic company. I was contacted by Aidan Kerr regarding a sales position opportunity in t...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Keith Parvin

Automation Division Director

I found Joseph to be extremely professional in every way when going through a recent recruitment process, always doin...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Kay Witte

Global Director Performance Excellence

Joseph was instrumental in making my last professional opportunity happen. He was easy to work with, responsive, and ...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Michael Wilson

Senior Account Manager

Working with Joseph was a seamless and positive experience from our first contact along with the various steps of the...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Tim Mitchell

Plant Manager, US

Stewart did an amazing job representing me for a new opportunity.

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Eduardo Valle

Development Mgr, US

This opportunity fell on my lap at the perfect time and the overall process with Christopher was great. It was a very...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Franz-Leo Nedo

Territory Sales Manager

Joseph is an expert in recruting people. He has in-depth practical knowledge and helpful by solving potential issues....

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Jeff Borchardt

Director of Planning, US

Mr. Clay was a wonderful recruiter. He was communicative and helped keep me informed through the process. He also fou...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Vincent Dehousse

Head of Sales & Marketing, Netherlands

Great experience working with Cian from Irving Knight—professional, responsive, and genuinely supportive. Highly reco...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Daniel Villanueva

Key Account Manager

Joseph is a dedicated professional and a stand up person to work with. His patience and his understanding certainly s...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Kerry Maye

Regional Sales Manager

Working with Joseph was a wonderfully positive experience from our first contact, through acceptance of my job offer....

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Jon Steele

CFO, US

Grace taught an old dog some new tricks! I had been in my previous position for 30 years. I loved my job for most of...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Sandeep Kulshrestha

Formulation Director, US

Oliver is very good in matching skills of the candidates with the company’s requirements. I personally got benefits o...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Michel Cas

Sales Manager, France

Incredibly human oriented executive search, candidates handled with great care and respect, precise and concise infor...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Anja Florbach

Digital & Commercial Excellence Manager

Thank you so much Joseph! You have given me a great support. It was really nice to be in contact with you and I thin...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Corinne Grice

Strategic Account Manager, US

Luca was an absolute gem to work with ! He reached out to me on linkedin with several different opportunities & was a...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Brian Carpenter

VP Continous Improvement, US

Stewart was instrumental in helping me through this process and alleviating my concerns as I’ve been out of the workf...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Tim Staniels

Territory Sales Manager, US

Joseph was very easy to work with. He was motivated and attentive during his recruitment process, very responsive to ...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Guillermo Leal

Global Director of Pricing, US

I've worked with a few recruiters in the past but Oliver surprised me not only for his professionalism, excellent com...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Andreia Sa

Director, Italy

I would like to sincerely thank Evan Ball for all the support throughout the process. He provided assistance at diffe...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Sara Benoit

Regional Account Manager, US

Irving Knight Group is a fantastic company. I was contacted by Aidan Kerr regarding a sales position opportunity in t...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Keith Parvin

Automation Division Director

I found Joseph to be extremely professional in every way when going through a recent recruitment process, always doin...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Kay Witte

Global Director Performance Excellence

Joseph was instrumental in making my last professional opportunity happen. He was easy to work with, responsive, and ...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Michael Wilson

Senior Account Manager

Working with Joseph was a seamless and positive experience from our first contact along with the various steps of the...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Tim Mitchell

Plant Manager, US

Stewart did an amazing job representing me for a new opportunity.

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Eduardo Valle

Development Mgr, US

This opportunity fell on my lap at the perfect time and the overall process with Christopher was great. It was a very...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Franz-Leo Nedo

Territory Sales Manager

Joseph is an expert in recruting people. He has in-depth practical knowledge and helpful by solving potential issues....

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Jeff Borchardt

Director of Planning, US

Mr. Clay was a wonderful recruiter. He was communicative and helped keep me informed through the process. He also fou...

Rated Excellent on Trustpilot

Vincent Dehousse

Head of Sales & Marketing, Netherlands

Great experience working with Cian from Irving Knight—professional, responsive, and genuinely supportive. Highly reco...

Up Next

Approach

Explore Our Approach

Why Us

Why Irving Knight

Trustpilot

FAQs

We’re here to make Executive Search easy to understand. Find answers to the most common questions below.

Our priority is fit, not speed. We take time to understand your background, goals, and motivations, then provide clear insight into each opportunity so you’re only considered for roles that truly align with your experience and ambitions.

We specialise in senior, specialist, and leadership appointments across the markets we serve. Our focus is on roles where experience, judgement, and cultural alignment are critical — typically mid- to senior-level management through to executive and board appointments.

You’ll gain honest market insight, access to high-quality opportunities, and clear guidance throughout the process. Our aim is simple: to help you make the right move, at the right time, with confidence.

No. Our services are completely free for candidates. We are retained by our client partners to manage their hiring processes, meaning there is never a cost to you at any stage.

Our role is to represent your interests professionally, provide guidance throughout the process, and help you assess opportunities objectively — without any financial obligation.

No — if anything, it gives you an advantage. We provide context, insight, and advocacy that ensure your experience and motivations are clearly understood from the outset. Our role is to strengthen your candidacy and guide you through a transparent, well-managed process.

We operate as a retained, partnership-led search firm rather than a transactional recruiter. That means fewer searches, deeper engagement, and a far higher level of commitment to outcomes. By combining sector specialism, market intelligence, and a disciplined search methodology, we deliver hires that are aligned not only to role requirements, but to culture, strategy, and long-term growth plans.

We don’t rely on databases or job advertising alone. Our searches are driven by proactive market mapping, targeted outreach, and insight gained from long-standing sector networks. Candidates are assessed on capability, leadership style, cultural alignment, and long-term potential — not just CV fit — ensuring a robust and well-informed shortlist.

Confidentiality is fundamental to how we operate. Every search is handled with discretion, clear communication, and controlled market engagement. As your representative in the market, we protect your brand, manage messaging carefully, and ensure sensitive information is only shared when appropriate — safeguarding both your business and your candidates throughout the process.

Our retained model is designed to deliver outcomes, not volume. Because we invest the time to fully understand the role, the business, and the wider context, we achieve a consistently high completion rate across our searches. More importantly, our focus is on long-term retention and impact, not short-term placement metrics.

While our process is designed to minimise risk, we recognise that circumstances can change. In the rare event a placement doesn’t succeed, we work closely with our client to address the situation and agree the most appropriate next steps. Our commitment is to the partnership and the outcome — not just the initial hire

Let's talk

Contact Irving Knight Group for Executive Search Enquiries