Kate Shehan Makes Major Comeback to HVS Executive Search After Building Her Own Executive Search Firm

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September 9, 2026 3:14 PM

HVS Executive Search has announced the return of Kate Shehan as Executive Vice President, bringing an experienced hospitality executive-search specialist back to the firm as it continues expanding its leadership advisory capabilities. Based in Annapolis, Maryland, Shehan previously served as Vice President at HVS Executive Search from 2018 to 2020 before establishing and leading her own boutique retained search practice, TalentPursuit Executive Search. During that period, she developed a specialised practice focused on C-suite, vice president, director and corporate leadership placements across hospitality, multi-unit services, food manufacturing, technology and corporate organisations. She also advised clients on executive talent intelligence and longer-term organisational growth. Shehan brings more than 25 years of experience across executive search, restaurant operations and human resources, supported by executive roles at Legal Sea Foods, Morton’s The Steakhouse, Crown Golf Properties and Chart House Restaurants. Her operator-level understanding of food and beverage gives her a distinctive perspective when assessing senior hospitality talent. In her new role, Shehan will lead retained search assignments, strengthen client relationships, develop junior consultants and work closely with CEO Alice Sherman to support HVS Executive Search’s continued growth.

Kate Shehan Returns to HVS Executive Search

The return of Kate Shehan represents a significant leadership appointment for HVS Executive Search.

Shehan rejoins the firm as Executive Vice President, having previously worked with HVS Executive Search between 2018 and 2020 as Vice President.

Her return follows several years spent building TalentPursuit Executive Search, a boutique retained search practice focused on senior leadership recruitment.

The move brings her back to an organisation specialising in executive talent within hospitality and related service industries.

Her combination of search expertise and direct operating experience provides a broad foundation for her new responsibilities.

From HVS Vice President to Boutique Search Founder

After leaving HVS Executive Search, Shehan established and led TalentPursuit Executive Search.

The practice developed a specialist focus on senior leadership appointments, covering positions ranging from C-suite executives to vice presidents, directors and corporate leaders.

Her client work extended across hospitality, multi-unit service organisations, food manufacturing, technology and corporate businesses.

The experience expanded her exposure beyond traditional hospitality recruitment and provided insight into leadership requirements across several industries.

She also advised organisations on executive talent intelligence and long-term organisational growth.

More Than 25 Years Across Search, Operations and HR

Shehan brings more than 25 years of professional experience spanning three closely connected areas: executive search, restaurant operations and human resources.

That combination distinguishes her from search professionals whose careers have been concentrated exclusively on recruitment.

Her operating background provides direct understanding of the demands faced by hospitality leaders.

Her experience in human resources adds insight into organisational structure, workforce development and leadership requirements.

Executive search then connects those capabilities to the identification and assessment of senior talent.

Operator Experience Strengthens Her Hospitality Perspective

Before and alongside her executive-search career, Shehan held executive roles with several recognised hospitality and restaurant organisations.

Her background includes leadership experience at Legal Sea Foods, Morton’s The Steakhouse, Crown Golf Properties and Chart House Restaurants.

These roles provided exposure to operational environments where customer experience, employee performance and commercial results are closely connected.

Such experience can be particularly valuable when evaluating senior candidates.

Understanding the operational realities of restaurants and service businesses allows executive-search advisers to assess leadership experience beyond a candidate’s CV or formal title.

A Specialised Focus on Senior Hospitality Talent

Shehan’s professional background has been built around identifying leaders capable of influencing organisational performance.

Her search practice has included C-suite, vice president, director and corporate leadership placements.

These positions carry responsibilities that extend well beyond individual departments.

Senior executives can influence company culture, financial performance, operational standards, growth strategies and organisational resilience.

HVS Executive Search works with organisations where those leadership decisions can have a direct impact on long-term results.

Shehan’s return therefore aligns closely with the firm’s core area of expertise.

HVS Executive Search Expands Its Leadership Capacity

As Executive Vice President, Shehan will take responsibility for retained search engagements.

Retained executive search typically involves a more comprehensive process for identifying and assessing senior candidates than conventional recruitment.

The approach requires close understanding of a client’s organisational objectives, leadership requirements and longer-term strategy.

Shehan will also be responsible for growing client relationships.

This places relationship management alongside executive assessment as a central part of her new role.

Developing the Next Generation of Search Consultants

Her responsibilities will extend internally as well.

Shehan will develop junior consultants, supporting the growth of the firm’s next generation of executive-search professionals.

Mentorship is particularly important within retained search because effective executive assessment requires industry knowledge, research capabilities, client communication and a sophisticated understanding of organisational leadership.

Her own combination of operating and search experience provides a strong foundation for this mentoring role.

She will also work closely with CEO Alice Sherman as the firm pursues its continued growth.

Hospitality Leadership Is at the Centre of HVS’s Work

HVS Executive Search supports organisations where senior leadership can directly influence performance, culture and long-term business outcomes.

Its work spans hotels, resorts, restaurants, private-equity-backed franchise services, contract food service and senior living.

These sectors share a strong dependence on effective leadership and operational execution.

A senior appointment can influence everything from service standards and employee retention to financial performance and expansion.

The firm’s specialist positioning therefore requires advisers who understand both executive talent and the industries in which those executives operate.

Private Equity and Franchising Add Complexity

The firm’s client base also includes private equity firms and franchisors.

Leadership requirements within these organisations can differ significantly from those of independent hospitality businesses.

Private-equity-backed companies may place particular emphasis on growth, value creation, financial discipline and operational scalability.

Franchise organisations must additionally balance corporate strategy with brand standards and the needs of individual operators.

Shehan’s experience across hospitality operations and executive recruitment gives her exposure to many of these competing considerations.

Talent Strategy Goes Beyond Recruitment

One of the defining elements of Shehan’s work has been her focus on executive talent intelligence and organisational growth.

This moves executive search beyond the simple objective of filling an open position.

Organisations increasingly need to understand which leadership capabilities will be required as their businesses change.

That can involve identifying succession risks, evaluating leadership gaps, understanding market talent pools and developing longer-term recruitment strategies.

Her advisory background therefore complements HVS Executive Search’s focus on finding transformative leaders.

Annapolis-Based Executive Leadership

Shehan will be based in Annapolis, Maryland, while working with HVS Executive Search’s broader client network.

Her location provides access to a major US hospitality and business market while supporting the firm’s work with organisations across different regions.

Executive search has increasingly become a geographically broad business, with senior leadership appointments frequently involving national and international candidate pools.

Her experience across multiple sectors can further support that broad client approach.

A Return Built on Established Experience

The significance of Shehan’s appointment also lies in the fact that she is returning to an organisation she already knows.

Her previous HVS Executive Search tenure from 2018 to 2020 provides familiarity with the firm’s operating environment.

The intervening years, however, have added another layer to her professional experience through the creation and leadership of TalentPursuit Executive Search.

That combination of prior institutional knowledge and subsequent entrepreneurial experience creates a different profile from a conventional external appointment.

Penn State University Alumna

Shehan is an alumna of Penn State University.

Her academic background complements a professional career that has developed across hospitality operations, human resources and executive search.

The combination has ultimately positioned her within a specialist field where understanding people and understanding business performance are closely connected.

What Her Appointment Means for HVS Executive Search

The return of Kate Shehan as Executive Vice President strengthens HVS Executive Search’s leadership bench at a time when hospitality organisations continue to place greater emphasis on senior talent.

Her career brings together more than 25 years of experience in executive search, restaurant operations and human resources.

Her operating experience with organisations including Legal Sea Foods, Morton’s The Steakhouse, Crown Golf Properties and Chart House Restaurants gives her direct insight into the demands of service-driven businesses.

Her later leadership of TalentPursuit Executive Search broadened that expertise through work with senior executives across hospitality and other industries.

At HVS Executive Search, she will now lead retained search engagements, client development and junior-consultant development, while collaborating with CEO Alice Sherman on the firm’s growth.

The appointment consequently represents more than the return of a former executive.

It brings an experienced operator and search adviser back into a specialist organisation focused on finding leaders capable of influencing performance, culture and long-term organisational success.

As hospitality companies, investors, franchisors and service organisations navigate increasingly complex talent requirements, Shehan’s combined understanding of operations, human resources and executive recruitment provides HVS Executive Search with an expanded leadership capability.

Her return places experienced talent strategy at the centre of the firm’s next phase of growth.