Anyone who thinks the biggest changes in the agri-food sector are happening in production lines, robotics or high-tech greenhouses is missing the real story. The true revolution is unfolding in the boardroom where companies decide who will lead a sector under extraordinary pressure: climate change, unstable supply chains, shifting consumer behavior and a global race for resources.
The CVs of the past no longer work
The leaders we need today no longer resemble the leaders we appointed yesterday. For years, executive search relied on network, reputation and sector experience. Warm introductions, familiar names, people who “knew the game.” But in a world reinventing itself at high speed, that model falls short.
A CV tells you where someone has been not how they will handle what comes next. Today’s challenges require strategic thinking, digital fluency, data literacy, sustainability focus and comfort with volatility. We’re searching for leaders ready for a future they’ve never experienced before.
Why technology is becoming indispensable
New technology is reshaping how we find and evaluate top talent. Data mapping shows which leaders globally match what companies truly need — including hidden talent that never appears on traditional longlists. AI helps assess competencies and behavioral tendencies more objectively. Virtual interviewing enables faster, broader searches across countries, continents and complex supply chains. The result? Better shortlists, faster processes, more diversity — and a far clearer understanding of the leadership capabilities companies will need next.
A real example from the field
A global food producer recently needed a plant operations leader who could accelerate both digitalization and sustainability , a difficult combination. But data mapping identified candidates from FMCG, energy and industry who had never considered agri-food. Psychometric assessments confirmed the best cultural and strategic fit. The selected candidate, from outside the sector, digitized the plant, reduced costs and accelerated sustainability programs within a year. Exactly the fresh perspective companies are longing for.
Human intuition remains essential
Technology is a tool not a replacement. It strengthens the human element rather than removing it. Data offers direction, but only an experienced professional understands what a team truly needs, which leadership style fits the culture and which personality will lift an organization forward. The future lies in combining both: data-driven insight and human judgment.
The real leadership of tomorrow is being built today
While the sector innovates in cultivation, automation and sustainability, an equally important transformation is taking place in the boardroom. CHROs and HR directors who embrace technology now gain a powerful advantage. They attract the scarce leaders who make the difference people who can handle today’s pressures and recognize tomorrow’s opportunities. Leadership is undeniably changing. The question is: who will be ready to guide the sector into the future?
I’m always open to a conversation about this boardroom revolution. Feel free to reach out.
Wilko Grievink
M +31 6 553 622 53
E wilko.grievink@hightouchglobal.com
