Clients served

Voice of the Client

 

“We chose to work with Cook because we wanted a more custom approach, and we wanted a process that was specific to our needs. I have worked with search firms before, both as a client and candidate, and I believe Cook has a much more hands-on approach to executive search, not cookie-cutter like most of the big firms. In this particular situation, we required a mix of entrepreneurial skills and high-process orientation. Walter’s focus and attention to our details far exceeded our expectations, and he really took the time to understand us. In the end, we had a very strong set of candidates, and we couldn’t be happier with our selection. I would not hesitate to work with Walter again.”
-Paul Block, President and CEO, Merisant

"Walter has an innate ability to narrow down a candidate list to include only the executives who are truly viable for the position - and for me, that's where the value lies...I am ecstatic about every single hire I have made."
- Mark Masten, Vice President, Global Sales, Paramount Farms

"Walter is the most thorough executive search consultant I have worked with. He is diligent, prepared and focused during the search process. He prepares a highly qualified panel of folks to interview. Walter is professional, easy to work with and respectful of my time."
- Frank Bragg, CEO, MBG Marketing and Naturipe Foods

Accomplishments

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Walter Rach

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Walter RachFood & Beverage
Private Equity
tel: +312.755.5627 [direct]
wrach@cookassociates.com

Walter Rach is a Managing Director located in the firm's Chicago headquarter office.  With over 25 years of executive search experience for Cook Associates, he has built an impressive record of search success. Walter has a strong and proven reputation for his consultative approach to search strategy and management and his impressive executional abilities are validated by on-going and repeat client business.

Throughout his search career with Cook Associates, Walter has conducted executive search assignments for companies producing products for both the consumer and industrial marketplaces. His client base has included Fortune 500 companies, mid-sized organizations and small manufacturing firms and he has experience working with public, private and private equity owned organizations. Walter's executive search practice at Cook Associates has had a particular focus on the Food and Beverage Industry.

Walter develops a comprehensive understanding of the strategies, operations, management and culture of his clients and his broad and extensive search experience gives him a strong knowledge of the various functional disciplines within an organization. He has experience conducting searches at the C-level as well as for the heads of functions such as Sales, Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, Human Resources, Quality Assurance Research and Development and Nutrition.

Walter received a master's degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and a bachelor of science in business administration degree from the University of Illinois - Urbana. Prior to joining Cook Associates, he spent several years in key account sales for the Carnation Company.