Finding Leaders
That Fit
On Day One.
Armitage Associates is a boutique executive search firm based in Toronto. In an age of algorithms and automation, we take a different approach: high-touch, human, and relationship-driven.
Fit Is
Everything.
We don't just match résumés to job descriptions. We take the time to understand your strategy, leadership style, and culture. Our goal is to find the kind of leader who will succeed from day one.
Targeted Search
We don't rely on job boards or algorithms. Instead, we tap into a carefully cultivated network of senior talent across industries and connect you with candidates who bring the right skills, experience, and mindset.
Tailored Selection
Every candidate is vetted through in-depth interviews, assessments, and reference checks. We look for not just the right skills, but the right leadership style, values, and cultural fit.
Seamless Integration
Our work doesn't end at placement. We stay engaged to support a smooth transition, helping your new hire integrate confidently and quickly into the role.
Why We're
Different.
We take the time to understand your business inside and out, from strategy and structure to leadership style and team culture, so we can identify the kind of leader who will thrive from day one.
Real leaders aren't always looking. But we know where to find them.
A Trusted Network of Top Talent
With 50+ years in executive search, we deliver top C-suite and senior leaders with speed, precision, and care, especially for hard-to-fill roles.
Deep Industry Insight
From mining and engineering to fintech and financial services, we bring an informed perspective and strong relationships to every search.
Boutique Means Better — Not Smaller
At a large search firm, the senior partner closes the deal and a junior associate runs your search. At Armitage, the person you meet on day one is the person working your file from start to finish. No hand-offs. No account managers. Senior attention on every search, every time.
We Move Quickly
Every search begins with a discovery call within 48 hours. We know that a critical role sitting vacant costs you more than our fee. Speed without shortcuts is what we deliver.
We Stand Behind Our Work
If a placed candidate leaves within the first year, we conduct a replacement search at no additional fee. We are invested in the outcome, not just the placement.
We Fly Under the Radar
You won't find us running ads or broadcasting on LinkedIn. That's intentional. When you work with senior talent at the highest levels, visibility is a liability. The best candidates are not on job boards and they are not responding to recruiters who blast their names across the internet. They are found quietly, approached personally, and treated with complete discretion. Our clients expect that. Our candidates demand it. And after 50 years, it is simply how we operate.
Our
Services.
Executive & Senior Leadership Search
We specialize in sourcing top-level executives from the mid to senior executive level. These are candidates who are ready to lead from day one.
Leadership Team Building
Our team assesses and advises your organization's talent needs to augment strong leadership teams across a multitude of functional areas.
Growth & Expansion Planning
We work with you to develop a strategic build-out plan to position your organization for growth through a quality senior talent pipeline.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusive Search
We prioritize diversity in hiring, helping organizations build more inclusive, high-performing leadership teams.
How It
Works.
In an age of algorithms and automation, every step of our process is driven by real people: experienced recruiters who listen, think, and build relationships. No bots. No automated outreach. No AI-generated shortlists. Just skilled humans who know how to find the right leader for your organization.
Discovery
We start by listening. We meet with you to understand your organization, the role, your leadership culture, and what success genuinely looks like, not just the job description, but the full picture.
Search Strategy
We map the market by hand. Our team draws on decades of relationships and deep sector knowledge to identify the right candidates, including those who aren't on job boards and aren't actively looking.
Candidate Assessment
Every candidate is personally interviewed and evaluated by our team, not screened by software. We assess skills, leadership style, cultural fit, and long-term potential before anyone reaches your desk.
Shortlist Presentation
You receive a curated shortlist of candidates we genuinely believe in. Each one is presented with our personal assessment. Quality over quantity, every time.
Placement & Ongoing Support
We guide you through the offer process and stay engaged well after placement, supporting a smooth transition and making sure your new leader lands well from day one.
Every search. Every call. Every candidate. Real humans, every step of the way.
Our
Team.
Armitage Associates was founded in Montreal in 1973 by John D. Armitage. For over 50 years the firm has built a reputation for placing exceptional leaders across some of North America's most competitive industries.
Chelsea brings over 20 years of executive search experience to every engagement. She works closely with clients to understand not just the role, but the culture, and finding leaders who are the right fit on paper and in practice. Her background spans financial services, fintech, mining, and engineering, with clients ranging from high-growth startups to Fortune 500 companies. Chelsea has held senior roles at global recruiting firms and led in-house talent functions at organizations including McAfee, Vale Base Metals, and Purolator. She advises private equity-backed businesses and sits on the Board of Advisors for Castle Lane Technologies. A Western University graduate, she brings a rare blend of instinct, relationships, and results.
Financial Services Fintech Mining & EngineeringMary partners closely with clients to design and deliver strategic talent acquisition initiatives. Her deep understanding of the mining sector, combined with strong technical insight, enables her to successfully execute executive, senior management, and highly specialized technical searches. Throughout her career, Mary has held senior HR and recruitment roles with leading global organizations including Hatch, GE Water and Process Technologies, and Golder. She also brings extensive executive search experience, having consulted with multiple global executive search firms. She manages talent acquisition projects involving executives, senior managers, and highly skilled technical personnel. Mary is currently the 2nd year Vice President, Central Region for the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), and is the former Co-Chair for the Executive Committee for CIM GTA West Branch, 2018 to 2022.
Mining & Resources Technical Search Executive Search Metals & Engineering EnvironmentalGregory is an entrepreneur and former executive with 20+ years of experience across talent acquisition, sales, and organizational strategy. He has held senior roles at CSL Behring, GE Capital, and Pfizer, and has taught entrepreneurship at the MBA level. His academic background spans marketing, economics, big data analytics, and higher education strategy, with studies at Rensselaer, Cambridge, and Northeastern. Gregory brings a rare combination of boardroom experience and practical insight, helping clients navigate complex hiring decisions with clarity.
Life Sciences Financial Services StrategyCarl is a Johannesburg-based recruitment specialist with over two decades of experience placing senior leaders across industrial and technical sectors. His expertise spans manufacturing, mining, natural resources, energy, engineering, supply chain, and logistics. Carl partners closely with clients to find leaders who fit across a broad range of functions, from executive leadership and finance to ESG, health and safety, and technical operations. A qualified Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IMMM), he is also a committed advocate for social empowerment, gender equality, and entrepreneurship as a driver of economic independence.
Mining & Resources Industrial EngineeringChris has spent over 25 years getting big, complicated projects off the ground across renewable energy, mining, telecommunications, and construction. He has been involved at every stage, from securing financing to boots-on-the-ground field work. He has worked across North America, Latin America, Africa, and Europe on everything from wind and solar to mining, BESS, and waste-to-energy, including negotiating multi-million-dollar deals in some of the world's most remote environments. Chris is just as comfortable in the boardroom as he is on a job site. He is particularly strong in project management, procurement, First Nations consultation, and seeing projects through from start to finish. He speaks English and Spanish.
Mining & Metals Renewables TelecommunicationsStart a
Search.
Start a
Search.
Whether you're filling a critical C-suite vacancy or building out a senior leadership team, we're ready to help. Most searches begin with a discovery call within 48 hours. If you prefer to talk directly, pick up the phone.
Thank You.
Your message has been received. A member of the Armitage Associates team will be in touch within 48 hours.