Beauty Formulation & R&D Leadership: Hiring for the Science
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerHire beauty formulation and R&D leaders who combine genuine scientific and formulation expertise with the ability to translate science into products that delight consumers, and the leadership to run R&D effectively. This science-and-product leadership underpins beauty brands and is distinct from commercial or marketing roles, […]
Leading a Turnaround
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerLeading a turnaround means taking a struggling or failing business and returning it to health — through clear diagnosis, decisive action, often difficult decisions, and the leadership to stabilise and then rebuild. It takes the ability to face reality honestly, act decisively under pressure, make […]
Strategic Thinking for Leaders
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerStrategic thinking means the ability to see the bigger picture, think about the future and the forces shaping it, and work out how the business can win — rising above day-to-day operations to consider direction, positioning, and choices. It takes perspective, the discipline to make […]
Managing Up: Leading Your Relationship with Those Above You
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerManaging up means working effectively and proactively with those above you — your boss, CEO, or board — to build a strong, productive relationship that helps you, them, and the business. It takes understanding their priorities and preferences, communicating well and proactively, building trust and […]
Building Trust as a Leader
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerBuilding trust as a leader means earning your people’s confidence that you are honest, reliable, capable, and genuinely act in good faith — through consistency, integrity, competence, and how you treat people, over time. Trust is foundational: teams and organisations run on it, and it […]
Giving Feedback as a Leader
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerGiving feedback well means helping people understand how they are doing and how to improve — honestly, specifically, and constructively — so they can grow. It takes giving feedback regularly rather than rarely, being specific and honest while remaining constructive and respectful, and genuinely wanting […]
Coaching Your Leadership Team
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerCoaching your leadership team means developing your leaders by helping them think, solve problems, and grow — through questions, guidance, and support — rather than simply directing them. It takes a genuine shift from telling to developing, real investment of time and attention in people’s […]
How to Hire a Ready Meals Executive
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerHire ready meals leaders who combine strong commercial and operational capability — including the freshness, quality, and supply-chain demands of prepared food — with an understanding of the category’s convenience-driven consumer and the growing demand for quality, health, and premium. The best pair operational rigour […]
How to Hire a Seafood Executive
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerHire seafood leaders who combine strong commercial and operational capability — including the sourcing, freshness, and supply-chain complexity distinctive to seafood — with genuine understanding of sustainability, which is central to the category, and the ability to build quality and value. The best pair operational […]
How to Hire a Bakery Executive
By Annabel Norman, Managing Partner · Norman Consultants The short answerHire bakery leaders who combine strong commercial and operational capability — including the freshness and shelf-life demands distinctive to baked goods — with brand strength and an understanding of the category, from packaged bakery to fresh and artisan. The best pair the rigour to run […]
