Dan Searby is a Managing Director with ZRG. Dan has spent his entire career in the consumer and restaurant/multi-unit retail sectors. He entered search in 2005 and prior to joining ZRG in 2020, Dan led senior-level searches for two search boutiques, the Elliot Group and Herbert Mines Associates.

Dan has developed deep restaurant industry specialization and built relationships in an industry where relationships still matter.  He has led extensive CEO and President-level searches and in the last two years he has completed seven CEO searches.  69% of his searches have been at the C-Suite level across all functions and 79% of Dan’s searches have been conducted on behalf of private equity or private capital portfolio companies.

Before entering the search world, he was Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for Restaurant Associates/Patina Group, a storied, $250 million, New York-based restaurant operator and contract feeder that was a Compass Group subsidiary. Dan started his career at the Coca-Cola Company, where he served in headquarters and field roles for over 15 years, ran the New York/Tri-State foodservice market, and later, oversaw the Northeastern National Accounts (foodservice) team.

Dan graduated cum laude with a BA from Vanderbilt University and earned his MBA from Harvard University. He also completed coursework toward a master’s degree in theology (no degree awarded).

Dan lives on Long Island and is active in his church, his community, and in not-for-profit development work. In addition, Dan is an avid tennis player.