Senior Vice President

cindy@centerstonesearch.com Cindy Fratarcangeli has over a decade of experience in retained executive search, specializing in recruiting officer-level executives for specialty retail companies, department stores, restaurants and venture-backed concepts. Since joining Villeneuve Associates (now CenterStone Executive Search, Inc.) in 2005, she has applied her expertise to research as well as client and candidate management for such clients as Borders, Denny’s, After Hours/David’s Bridal, Hollywood Entertainment, Cranium, Wolverine World Wide, ULTA and Five Below.

Cindy spent three years with the boutique retail recruiting firm, Plummer & Associates. She then moved to Korn/Ferry International, where she worked for more than five years in the retail, consumer products and finance practices, with clients including Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works, Express, dELiA*s, Wal-Mart, Cosi, Zany Brainy, United Retail Group and David’s Bridal.

She began her career in merchandising at Caldor, Inc., starting in the company’s executive training program and later holding several merchandising positions within the company. She graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a B.S. in business administration.

Sophisticated clients and candidates

In search, every client is different and every candidate is different, Cindy says, which makes it interesting and enjoyable. “We custom-fit our search solution to meet the unique requirements of each client.”

But both clients and candidates have become more sophisticated. Clients now want officer-level candidates who are robustly multi-talented, while candidates have become more discerning about when they'll uproot their families.

“Getting people to look at an opportunity is a lot harder these days,” says Cindy. “People factor in their families, their spouses, their kids, and where they live a lot more than they used to.”

The extra challenge of making sure the move is right for the candidate adds a consultative layer that Cindy really appreciates.

Fitting for style, too

“We develop very sound relationships with our clients and candidates, working as their partners to give a more personal touch,” she says. “At this level, we absolutely look for style fit, which is as important if not more than just technical skill and experience.”