This case study demonstrates how a single successful placement can evolve into a strategic partnership, delivering multiple hires, cost savings, and becoming a model for scaling D2C capabilities across an international portfolio.
Client Profile: Vafo Group
Initial Engagement: Pooch & Mutt
Vafo Group acquired Pooch & Mutt to serve as their “poster child” for direct-to-consumer operations.
When organisational restructuring created a critical vacancy, they needed a partner who understood
both the D2C subscription model and the calibre required for a high-stakes hire.
Successfully placed Rosie (ex-Gousto) as Executive Director of Growth. Jack Hayes remarked on having a “nice headache” due to the exceptionally high quality of candidates, noting the difficulty of choosing between multiple outstanding options
Following the success of the Pooch & Mutt placement, Vafo Group extended the partnership across their portfolio:
15+ successful hires within the first 12 to 18 months, with additional searches ongoing.
Deep understanding of the pet industry D2C landscape enabled identification of candidates with relevant experience across similar business models (subscription services, premium positioning, multi-market operations).
Access to 150+ head-level professionals in specialised pet sector community meant quality candidates could be identified quickly without extensive advertising or lengthy search processes.
Volume-based partnership model delivered significant savings compared to traditional agency fees:
Single point of contact understanding company culture, role requirements, and organisational dynamics meant:
Beyond recruitment, partnership included:
What Made This Partnership Work:
“The quality of candidates presented gave us a ‘nice headache’ – we had multiple excellent options for a critical role. That level of choice, combined with the speed of delivery and understanding of our business, made the decision to expand the partnership across our group an easy one.”
Jack Hayes – Executive Director of Growth, Vafo Digital
Former Head of Performance Marketing, Pooch & Mutt
“I’ve worked with Alex as a recruitment partner for the last 18
months across Vafo Digital and the wider Vafo Group, including brands such as Pooch & Mutt, Franklin Pet Food, PetCo GmbH.
During that time, Alex has supported us with multiple hires, predominantly across marketing roles, but also tech, product and design, spanning the UK and mainland Europe. What really sets Alex apart is his genuine understanding of the DTC landscape, he knows what great looks like in DTC space and his network supports that.
As a result, we’ve seen a clear improvement in both speed to hire and quality.
Alex and his team operate much more like trusted partners than traditional recruiters. He understands our business, challenges assumptions when needed, and delivers consistently. If you don’t work with Alex and his team for recruitment needs, then I would advise you to start.”
James Collingham – CEO, Vafo Digital
This model is particularly effective for:
Whether you’re planning a single critical hire or building an entire function, we’d welcome the opportunity to discuss how a partnership approach could benefit your organisation.
Whether you’re planning a single critical hire or building an entire function, we’d welcome the opportunity to discuss how a partnership approach could benefit your organisation.
US: +1 929 534 6862 | UK: +44 (0)7583 648 612 Alex@AcquireDigitalTalent.com www.acquiredigitaltalent.com