Michael Cooper

Managing DirectorParadise Valley, AZ
Areas of Expertise

Agribusiness, CPG, Food

About

A founding partner of Kincannon & Reed, Michael worked with clients placing the right leadership for several years. Author and search professional, he brings his experience as a senior executive in the food, agribusiness, and consumer products industries to clients of Kincannon & Reed in the protein and commodities sectors.

Prior to working with Kincannon & Reed, he served as President and CEO of a branded beef products company, Meyer Foods, as President of Perdue Farms’ retail products division, and as SVP & GM of Perdue’s foodservice and international divisions, while concurrently serving as CFO for Perdue Farms’ parent company.

Michael holds a BS in Marketing and an MBA from Arizona State University. He is a CPA (inactive) and CGMA, licensed in Arizona, Maryland and Virginia.

Recent Placements & Food for Thought

The leaders we place prove the quality of our work. The knowledge of our experts provides the insight you need to attract the right candidates.

Driving Organizational Success: The Power of Communication and Collaboration

“Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people.” – Steve Jobs A…

Keep Reading

Unlocking Leadership Potential: The Value of Leadership Assessments

Just as the producer assesses soil quality and pest control among a myriad of other factors to ensure a quality harvest,…

Keep Reading

Driving Success: The Impact of Outside Board Directors

In today’s dynamic business landscape, the role of outside board directors has become increasingly crucial for organizations seeking to enhance their…

Keep Reading

The Value of Retained Search

Talent acquisition is only becoming more complex, especially in niche markets and for specialized roles. It’s a monumental task to hire…

Keep Reading

Year End Global Talent Trends and Implications

AN EVOLVING MARKET It could be argued that uncertainty has been the biggest hurdle of 2023 for businesses around the globe.…

Keep Reading

The ROI of Executive Coaching: Is it Worthwhile?

Change is inevitable and it’s necessary to grow, but that doesn’t mean it’s not challenging. To appreciate the value – tangible…

Keep Reading

Behavioral-based interviews provide foundation for in-depth candidate assessments

Last year, we had conversations with more than 15,000 prospective candidates to determine not only their level of interest in an…

Keep Reading

Inclusive Leadership: Three Actions for Successful Leaders

The jury is in: inclusive leadership is successful leadership. According to a recent Kincannon & Reed survey, food and agriculture industry…

Keep Reading

When is the right time to hire new leaders for startups and innovative businesses?

Five Considerations to Recruit the Best Leaders for Your Startup Managing Directors Ed Yuhas, Lisa Johnson & Aidan Connolly contributed to…

Keep Reading

Engagement & Development: Keys to Engaging and Developing Top Talent

Developing executives to meet future human capital needs has C-suite leaders examining former assumptions and identifying a different set of attributes…

Keep Reading

Retention: Workplace Culture and Hybrid Demands Front and Center

In 2021, more than 47 million Americans quit their jobs, the most resignations on record, but The Great Resignation is not…

Keep Reading

Attraction: C-Suite Leaders Identify the Most In-Demand and Elusive Skills

Today’s executives are not only being hired for what they have accomplished, but more crucially, for their potential to impact the…

Keep Reading

Motivating Factors in Attraction & Retention

How do organizations in the ag-food value chain face off against others in and out of the industry? How do they…

Keep Reading

Industry Experts Making Connections

Our principals are active in the industries they serve and leverage their experience for our clients