Agricultural executive search firm

 

Leaderia recruits qualified executives, managers and experts for the agricultural sector: agricultural equipment (farm and livestock equipment), agricultural supplies (seeds, phytosanitary products, etc.), plant and animal production, animal nutrition and health, environment and energy, new technologies, winegrowing supplies and equipment.

chasseur de tête agricole
Recrutement dans l'agricole

What agricultural companies do we hunt for?

 

We recruit on a permanent or interim basis for companies of all shapes and sizes:

  • Agricultural cooperatives: generalist, cereal, dairy, wine, fruit, vegetable, sugar, livestock, horticultural, forestry cooperatives

 

  • Agricultural machinery: manufacturers (tractors, equipment, milking equipment), dealers (agricultural, green spaces)

 

  • Agri-businesses: cereals, plant protection products, seeds, inputs (fertilisers and pesticides), animal feed, wine products, oils and oilseeds, fruit and vegetables, wood and forestry products, organic products, bioenergy, etc.

 

  • Agribusiness: seed companies, fertiliser manufacturers, crop protection product manufacturers

 

  • Crop protection: biocontrol, biostimulants

Testimonials

Approached by Leaderia to join the Leitmotiv group, I benefited from exceptionally smooth, professional, and supportive guidance from Anne-Marie. Her active listening and precise advice made me feel truly valued and treated as a partner. The transparency of the process, along with regular briefings and feedback, allowed me to approach each step with complete confidence. Beyond the recruitment itself, this support helped me clarify my future scope and enter my new role with total peace of mind.

Kevin Grandel de Keating

Marketing & Communication Director, Leitmotiv

I appreciated Leaderia’s structured and dynamic approach throughout the recruitment process. Our exchanges allowed us to carefully align the key challenges of the role, the mission, and my profile. The efficiency of the follow-up and the clarity of the feedback provided real transparency at every stage. A direct, rigorous approach with a strong focus on active listening.

Philippe Cambourg

S&OP Director, Sodexo

During my job search, I particularly appreciated the clarity and quality of my exchanges with Leaderia. Their adherence to timelines and attentive approach allowed us to accurately confirm the fit between my profile and the proposed role. Stéphane provided relevant, insightful advice throughout the entire process. An onboarding experience I whole-heartedly recommend.

Xavier Barbieux

Plant Manager, Coustenoble

I particularly appreciated the human touch and the quality of follow-up from the Leaderia team throughout my recruitment process. Our exchanges were consistently pleasant, smooth, and attentive to my needs. Marion was able to answer all my questions and guide me at every step. Thanks to this support, I secured my dream job.

Marjolaine Le Caignard

Auditor, Certis

Leaderia supported me throughout my job search with attentiveness and trust. Thanks to Stéphane and Marion’s advice, I was able to approach each stage of the process with peace of mind. The seamless communication and high quality of guidance quickly made me feel confident. This close working relationship was a true source of support throughout my entire journey.

David Hermon

Site Director, Fromagerie du Val de Sienne

Faced with a talent shortage, we turned to Leaderia on the recommendation of our partner Unigrains. The team quickly understood our key challenges, and we particularly appreciated the straightforward and genuine nature of our exchanges. The high caliber of candidates presented gave us access to profiles we likely wouldn’t have identified on our own. As a result, we recruited two team members who are now fully integrated, all while saving valuable time.

Aude Fouctière

HR Director, Beillevaire Group

We called upon Leaderia to recruit a Business Development Manager responsible for launching a new product in the food-service market. Their deep knowledge of the HORECA sector and immediate understanding of our strategy were key to our success. We particularly appreciated the team’s availability, responsiveness, transparency, and high-quality follow-up. Their guidance allowed us to navigate this strategic recruitment with total peace of mind.

Farida Riahi

HR France Director, AB Mauri France

Looking to take my career in a new direction, Anne-Marie took the time to understand my background and aspirations. She presented me with an opportunity I wouldn’t have considered on my own: managing a Relais & Châteaux property in the Paris region. I particularly appreciated the quality of our exchanges, the transparency of the process, and Leaderia’s ability to create a genuine match between talent and a project. Two years on, this opportunity has proven to be a true career and life-changing decision.

Clément Gohin

Managing Director, Hôtel Les Lumières

In a context of rapid growth, we entrusted Leaderia with recruiting two executive profiles that were particularly challenging to identify. Marion quickly understood our challenges and supported us with responsiveness, transparency, and a close working relationship. Her ability to adjust the search based on our ongoing discussions was especially valuable. Both recruitments were a complete success, and both employees are still with the company today.

Domitille Baudin

HR Director, Calicéo

As part of a strategic position creation, we were looking for an experienced, agile profile capable of supporting the launch and structuring of a new brand. Anne-Marie’s active listening and quality dialogue quickly built a strong relationship of trust. Her guidance also helped us refine our requirements and realign our search whenever necessary. Ultimately, we found the right candidate to structure and support our organization over the long term.

Raphaël de Laage

Managing Director, AH Management

I completed a 4-month part-time interim management mission for a Leaderia client. The assignment was a perfect match for my expertise, enabling me to address the client’s needs quickly and effectively. The ongoing communication with both parties was seamless, supported by monthly progress reviews.

Hélène Orliac

CSR Interim Manager

I needed someone to lay the groundwork, define a vision and action plan, structure, streamline, prioritize, and measure the impact of our decisions. Leaderia found the right person in just two days and connected us almost immediately.

Laurence Gad

CEO & CSR Lead, Seritel

Anaïs, the consultant who supported us on our various recruitments, made a deep effort to understand our company beyond the job scope itself, our human environment, philosophy, and values, to present us with a candidate who was both skilled and a great fit for our team.

Jean-Marc Venin

CEO, Ami Ingrédients

Through this testimonial, I would like to highlight the quality of Leaderia’s support, starting with the time spent understanding our needs and our core identity, as well as the relevance of the questions asked during the initial brief.

Pascal Reungoat

Sales Director, Ami Ingrédients

The recruitment process established by Leaderia is exceptionally well-crafted. The brief regarding the employer’s needs is clear and precise, and the exchanges with Anne-Marie are open, constructive, and effortless.

Matthieu Barreau

General Manager, Les Hôtels Paris Rive Gauche

Leaderia supported us in recruiting strategic positions within our organization.

Corentin Allée

HR Director, Kersia

Over the years and across our various collaborations, I have come to deeply appreciate the extensive expertise and professionalism of Anne-Marie Lefèvre and Leaderia in truly understanding our industry.

Stéphane Tabardel

Operations Director, ACCOR Midscale / Luxury Franchise Network

What agricultural professions are we recruiting for?

The agricultural world is short of labour at all levels and needs to work on its attractiveness to attract the talent who will be able to commit, invest themselves and see the interest and richness of the companies and professions in this sector.

To support this ambition, Leaderia has adapted its recruitment approach to attract more experienced candidates. Here are the professions in which we have been looking for talent in this sector:

Management committees
  • Managing Director of a farming cooperative
  • Chief Executive Officer
  • Agricultural concession manager
  • Agricultural Director
  • Head of Agricultural Division
  • Branch Director
  • Industry Director
  • Country Manager
  • Farm Manager
  • Agricultural Product Processing Director
  • Sales Director
  • Marketing Director
  • Operations Director
  • Business Unit Manager
  • Quality Director
  • Human Resources Director
  • Chief Financial Officer
Read more
Sales & marketing
  • Sales Director
  • Marketing Director
  • Site Manager
  • Area Manager
  • Regional Manager
  • Business Manager
  • Head of sales
  • Export sales manager
Read more
Support & R&D
  • Logistics Director
  • Information Systems Director
  • Head of Human Resources
  • Administrative & Financial Manager
  • Payroll manager
  • Personnel manager
  • Production planning manager
  • Robotics centre manager
  • Management control manager
  • IS Manager
  • Industrial management controller
  • Indirect buyer
Read more
Techniques
  • Technical Director
  • Dairy site manager
  • Operations Manager
  • QHSE Director
  • Application engineer
  • Livestock advisory engineer
  • Technical inspector
  • Maintenance & new works manager
  • Continuous improvement manager
  • Supply manager
  • Upstream centre manager
  • After-sales service manager
Voir plus

The full range of Leaderia services

In addition to recruitment, Leaderia can also help you with :

cabinet management transition

Interim management

If you need specific, immediate expertise for a specific period of time

bilan de compétence

Assessment

If you need to assess an employee's potential for internal development

Coaching dirigeant

Coaching

If an employee needs to develop intra- or inter-personal skills.

Cabinet outplacement

Outplacement

If an employee needs to move on to a new professional opportunity

cabinet de recrutement nantes

Recruitment

If you are looking to strengthen your team with strategic profiles

Formation recrutement

Professional training

If you want to strengthen the recruitment expertise of your HR teams

More about us

Where do we operate in the world of agriculture?

We operate and recruit throughout France from our offices in Paris and Nantes.

 

We can also handle your executive search assignments in Europe directly from France, with a particular focus on German and Central European companies. Our team of headhunters speaks French, English, German, Greek and Polish. To guarantee the success of our mandates, we are also supported by our partners in the IARA network.

The IARA (International Agribusiness Recruitment Alliance) network brings together recruitment agencies specialising in agricultural jobs in France, the UK and Germany.

 

Upcoming trade fairs where you can meet us

Shows in France: Sival, CFIA, SITL, Salon de l’herbe et des fourrages, Innovagri, Potato Europe, SPACE, Salonvert, Sommet Elevage, Agrimax, Pollutec, Salon de l’agriculture, SIA Pro, les culturales, Sitevi, Agrisima, etc.

 

International trade fairs: Fruit Logistica, Anuga Food Tech, ABIM, Eurotier, Agritechnica

Why choose Leaderia to hunt for your farming talent?

An experienced team at your service:

 

  • Stéphane Loiseau has been recruiting in the agricultural sector for over 20 years
  • Philippe Carastamatis has been recruiting in the sector for nearly 10 years

 

We see ourselves as genuine partners of the clients we work with and advise every year.

 

Our deliberately small number of clients enables us to adopt a tailor-made approach and respond in a way that is adapted to their corporate culture and territory. Our aim is to maintain a close relationship with our clients over the long term.

 

Our methodology is based on in-depth knowledge of the agricultural sector, its players and challenges, and on an effective direct approach using an extensive and regularly updated candidate database.

 

We advise you throughout the recruitment process: discussing your needs, choosing the right sourcing methodology, evaluating candidates using psychometric tests and reference checks, deciding between the finalist candidates, and making managerial recommendations to ensure a smooth integration into your company.

 

We guarantee the desired degree of confidentiality during the assignment (so not all posts are always posted online).

 

Our clients include well-known companies in the machinismo sector

How do we recruit in the agricultural sector?

We operate according to the following terms of engagement:

  • Exclusivity of the assignment
  • 3-stage retainer system: at the start of the assignment, on presentation of a short-list and on recruitment of the successful candidate
  • Flat-rate fees of at least €12k

The challenges facing the agricultural sector

With 390,000 farms (including 145,000 devoted to livestock farming) and 49% of its territory covered by agricultural land, France is Europe’s leading agricultural nation, accounting for 18% of European production (or €77 billion)*.

 

A few other key figures: France is Europe’s leading producer of wheat and maize, the 4th largest producer of fruit and vegetables, and the world’s 6th largest exporter of agri-food products. Beverages, wines and spirits are France’s biggest sellers, accounting for 25% of exports.

 

The farming world has to deal with numerous constraints: economic, environmental and regulatory, with the number of farms constantly falling.

 

Farmers are in it for the long haul, with the difficulty of reconciling performance and the living.

 

Some figures and challenges :

  • The profitability of the sector (agri-agro) is in line with the average for French industry.
  • Food prices have risen by 17% in 2 years
  • Food waste: we throw away around 30% (from soil to plate)
  • The food/agriculture/distribution value chain is changing: for example, cooperatives are investing in the retail sector, and millers are buying up all the bakers.
    40% of what we eat comes from cooperatives, to which 80% of farmers belong.
  • Cooperatives have a bright future ahead of them.

The subject of the moment is decarbonisation (scope 1,2,3) – with the reduction of CO2 on transport av