Executive & Technical Talent Search for Manufacturing and Retail
We focus on manufacturers and retailers, building high-performing Cloud, Data and AI teams. We find and vet the leaders and technical talent needed to deliver critical initiatives.
Platforms we recruit for
Microsoft Azure
Microsoft Dynamics
Claude
OpenAI
Google Cloud
SAP
Amazon Web Services
Databricks
Snowflake
SalesforceOur Advisors Have Built Data & AI Teams for 200+ Companies
Practitioner-Vetted Talent Shortlist Targeted in 2 Weeks
Access to Highly Specialized Cloud, Data & AI Talent Through Deep Industry Relationships
The Problem
Manufacturers and retailers need a clear view of the skills required today and how their team must evolve for tomorrow.
You need people who combine data, AI, and cloud expertise with practical delivery experience in manufacturing or retail.
It takes practitioners to assess real depth, judgment and leadership.
Our story
Sebastian Group started on the Consulting side. Two decades in data, analytics and cloud, and the last three years putting teams together to deliver complex cloud and AI transformations for our clients.
As practitioners, we've built teams that deliver.
We know what great talent looks like.
We know where to find great leaders and tech talent.
We know how to evaluate them.
Why It Matters
The right talent doesn't just fill a role. They elevate performance, strengthen teams and protect your technology investments.
01
800%
Higher Productivity
Top performers in highly complex roles can be up to 800% more productive. Identifying exceptional Cloud, Data and AI talent can dramatically accelerate execution and business impact.
Source: McKinsey & Company | Attracting and Retaining the Right Talent | November 2017
02
Nearly 2x
Team Capability
Exceptional leaders unlock nearly twice the capabilities of their teams. We identify leaders who elevate performance, empower talent and multiply organizational impact.
Source: Liz Wiseman | Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter | 2010
03
50%
Risk of Budget Overruns
Poor architecture and insufficient expertise can drive costly overruns. We identify proven technical talent who reduce rework, control costs and protect technology investments.
Source: Gartner | Hype Cycle for Generative AI | 2026
Our Approach
Experience modernizing cloud environments, building data platforms and integrating operational systems.
The ability to develop people, exercise sound judgment and lead through change.
A record of moving AI into production and delivering measurable operational and commercial outcomes.
The questions we ask
Practitioners interview practitioners. These are real questions from our vetting. If you would ask them yourself, we should talk.
For doers
“If one sensor fires 10,000 times a second and another only logs when something changes, how do you align their timestamps so a model sees the same moment?”
“How do you make sure the data your model trained on matches exactly what it sees the moment it's making a live decision?”
“How do you tie a PLC tag to a batch, a work order, or a SKU so the sensor data actually means something to the business?”
“If plant ops, finance, and supply chain each pull last month's OEE, do they get the same number?”
For doers
“When you're merging product data from dozens of vendor feeds into one master record, how do you decide which vendor's version wins when two feeds disagree on the same attribute?”
“If an AI agent is replacing analysts who clean product data by hand, how do you know when it's right, and what happens to the records it isn't sure about?”
“If a merchant, a finance analyst, and a store ops lead each ask your AI assistant for last week's sales, how do you make sure all three get the same number?”
“When a promotion spikes sales for two weeks, how do you stop your demand forecast from treating that as the new normal?”
Cloud, Data and AI Leadership
“How do you keep Azure or Databricks spend from running away once teams start experimenting with AI?”
“How do you test an AI agent before it goes live when there is no single right answer to check it against?”
“How do you know a model that was accurate at launch is still accurate six months later, and whose job is it to notice?”
“Tell me about one critical analytics or AI initiative where you partnered with a business leader to deliver verified financial value. What was the baseline, target, total cost and outcome, and what technical debt did you remove without creating new complexity? Finally, what criteria told you to scale, change or stop?”
How We Search
Our goal is simple: Find and vet exceptional talent and leaders so you spend less time reviewing resumes, more time choosing the right fit, and hire faster.
We work with your team to define the skills and experience the role truly needs, before the search begins.
We reach leaders and advisors inside our ecosystem to identify talent, fit and industry experience.
Our experts vet candidates on leadership, platform skills and delivery approach.
We present vetted candidates to your team with our open assessment.
Our Services
Define the team and capabilities your business needs to deliver its data, AI and cloud priorities.
Find proven CIOs, VPs and senior leaders with the expertise to lead your initiatives.
Scope the technical roles your initiatives require, then find skilled individual contributors to fill them.
For HR & Talent Teams
Engaged specialist and retained leadership searches. We agree the structure and milestones before the search begins.
We set a target date together after scoping the role and market.
Any replacement guarantee and its terms are confirmed in your search agreement.
We coordinate with your HR and hiring teams, with clear criteria and feedback at every step.
Expert vetting.
Less hiring workload.
Better candidates.
Reduce the hiring burden on your team. Your team spends less time screening and more time choosing from qualified talent.
Tell us who you need and our advisors will follow up to schedule a call.
