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Kanbrick

Long-term investor acquiring, improving businesses

Director of People and Leadership

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/23/2026
No salary listed
Expert
Hatfield, PA, USA
In PersonOn-site presence at the Hatfield headquarters is expected, with visits to newly integrated operations when required.
People & HRLearning & Development, HR Generalist & Employee Relations

About the job

Requirements
  • Demonstrated ability to move quickly, solve hard problems, earn credibility with business leaders, and turn ideas into operating practices that stick.
  • Ability to connect talent and organizational decisions to business objectives.
  • Curiosity, resourcefulness, and comfort operating where not every answer or process is defined.
  • Ability to build credibility with frontline and technical teams as well as senior leaders through sound judgment, competence, and follow-through.
  • Commitment to developing people and leaders and creating growth opportunities for employees.
  • Willingness to experiment with technology and artificial intelligence to improve quality, speed, and business outcomes.
  • Ability to respect the strengths of a successful family-led company while earning trust to challenge, improve, and help it grow.
Responsibilities
  • Lead a team comprising a Recruiter, HR Generalist, and HR Business Partner.
  • Build and lead succession planning, talent review, leadership and manager development, workforce planning, and career progression; help leaders identify and develop high-potential talent and build stronger teams.
  • Lead and continuously improve employee relations, compliance, onboarding, performance management, and HR systems; own the annual performance cycle and promote consistent HR practices across locations.
  • Advise leaders on complex employee matters and maintain multi-state compliance, partnering with outside employment counsel when needed.
  • Own ADP Workforce Now and other People technology, ensuring accurate data and identifying ways technology can simplify work and improve manager and employee experience.
  • Develop and own the compensation philosophy, including pay ranges, career frameworks, and the connection between performance and rewards; partner with Finance on annual compensation planning.
  • Lead benefits strategy and administration, including plan design, renewals, and broker management.
  • Lead talent acquisition strategy across frontline, technical, and senior leadership roles; partner with the Recruiter and business leaders to build talent pipelines, improve hiring and candidate experience, and strengthen the employer brand.
  • Support managers and teams in applying the LTI Way fundamentals as the company grows, preserving the company’s culture while enabling it to evolve.
  • Partner with the CEO, CFO, and leadership team on acquisition-related due diligence, integration planning, team onboarding, and post-close evaluation of compensation, benefits, talent, and culture.
  • Advise the CEO and leadership team on organizational design, talent, and people decisions as the company scales.
  • Maintain an on-site presence at LTI’s Hatfield headquarters and attend newly integrated operations when work requires it.

About the company

Kanbrick partners with founders and business owners to acquire consumer and industrial companies with strong competitive moats and untapped potential. It operates as a long-term investment partnership that combines investing and hands-on operating experience to improve performance and grow value over time. The company’s approach relies on taking a patient, equity-led ownership stake and implementing practical operational changes to unlock growth, efficiency, and resilience. What sets Kanbrick apart is its blend of investment and hands-on operations, offering a differentiated, long-term home for businesses and a compelling option for founders seeking enduring support rather than a quick exit. The goal is to compound long-term returns by building durable companies with durable competitive advantages.

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

Growth Equity (Non-Venture Capital)

Total Funding

$220M

Headquarters

Nashville, Tennessee

Founded

2020

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Kanbrick raised $220 million in 2024, preserving dry powder for 2026 deals.
  • Keep Supply closed February 3, 2026, expanding industrial distribution exposure.
  • Depatie's February 24, 2026 partnership adds motion-control and automation cross-sell opportunities.

What critics are saying

  • 2026 roll-ups in Keep Supply, LTI, AAG, and Depatie strain integration capacity.
  • Targeting $5 million-$50 million EBIT businesses creates founder-dependence and succession risk.
  • One failed platform acquisition could crush Kanbrick's reputation with family sellers by 2027.

What makes Kanbrick unique

  • Kanbrick buys minority and majority stakes, preserving founder control and flexibility.
  • Its Kanbrick Business System standardizes operating playbooks across family-owned businesses.
  • The Kanbrick Community sources deals and gives CEOs practical peer support.

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Benefits

  • Health Insurance
  • Dental Insurance
  • Vision Insurance
  • 401(k) Company Match
  • Paid Vacation

Growth & Insights and Company News

6 month growth

5%

1 year growth

11%

2 year growth

11%
Business Wire
Feb 24th, 2026
Kanbrick Announces Growth Partnership with Depatie Fluid Power Group

Kanbrick announces growth partnership with Depatie Fluid Power Group. CHARLOTTE, N.C. & NASHVILLE, Tenn.-(BUSINESS WIRE)-Kanbrick, the long-term investment partnership focused on investing in and growing family-owned businesses, announced a minority partnership with Depatie Fluid Power Group, a leading manufacturer, distributor, and service provider of fluid power components and automation systems. Kanbrick will provide long-term strategic support to accelerate the company's next phase of growth. "Depatie's expertise in mission-critical fluid power applications, combined with its comprehensive engineering services, uniquely positions the company for expansion. We're excited to partner with this exceptional team to unlock new growth opportunities." Share For 70 years, Depatie has been a differentiated provider of products, equipment, and best-in-class engineering services for motion control and automation. Led by second-generation owner Ryan Thomas, the company has diversified through strategic acquisitions, including Am-Dy-Nic, Great Lakes, Hose & Automation, Hydraulic Systems Inc., International Fluid Power, J.E.M. Fluid Power, and West Michigan Hydraulics. In 2026, Depatie and its subsidiaries were incorporated into the American Motion Group (AMG) family of companies, which includes CKC Automation, a full-spectrum automation provider, and Threadcraft Inc., a ball screw manufacturer. "I've had the chance to get to know the Kanbrick team over the past two years, and we're excited to partner with a group that shares our passion for our team members and the customers we serve," said Ryan Thomas, President and General Manager of Depatie. "As technology continues to evolve across our industry, this long-term partnership gives us the resources and strategic support to stay at the forefront of motion control and automation." Kanbrick will work closely with Ryan and the AMG companies to expand capabilities and services. "Depatie's expertise in mission-critical fluid power applications, combined with its comprehensive engineering services, uniquely positions the company for expansion," said Tracy Britt Cool, Co-Founder of Kanbrick. "We first met Ryan two years ago through our Kanbrick Community and have been impressed with Depatie's legacy, global platform, and deep customer relationships. We're excited to partner with this exceptional team to unlock new growth opportunities." Depatie joins Kanbrick's family of companies including JM Test Systems, Marine Concepts, Laboratory Testing (LTI), Alchemy Analytical Group (AAG), and Keep Supply. About Depatie Fluid Power Group Founded in 1956, Depatie Fluid Power Group is a leading provider of hydraulics, pneumatics, and fluid connector parts and equipment, known for best-in-class engineering services for their clients in the aerospace, medical, automotive, mining, and agriculture industries. Depatie is part of the American Motion Group (AMG), a family of companies that includes Am-Dy-Nic, CKC Automation, Great Lakes, Hose & Automation, Hydraulic Systems Inc., International Fluid Power, J.E.M. Fluid Power, Threadcraft Inc., and West Michigan Hydraulics. Together, they have 12 locations in the U.S., serving thousands of customers worldwide. For more information, visit: depatie.com. About Kanbrick Kanbrick is a long-term investment partnership founded by Tracy Britt Cool and Brian Humphrey that is focused on buying, building, and growing great businesses. Kanbrick partners closely with CEOs, founders, and owners, taking a hands-on approach to empower people and companies to reach their full potential. Kanbrick supports family- and founder-owned companies through its Kanbrick Community and programs like Build with Kanbrick. For more information, visit: kanbrick.com.

Business Wire
Feb 4th, 2026
Kanbrick Announces Acquisition of Industrial Refrigeration Parts Provider Keep Supply

Kanbrick, the long-term investment partnership focused on investing in and building founder- and family-owned businesses, today announced a strategic partner...

Business Wire
Apr 23rd, 2025
Kanbrick Acquires Laboratory Testing Inc. in Partnership with McVaugh and Hiller Families

Kanbrick, the long-term investment partnership focused on investing in and building founder- and family-owned businesses, today announced a strategic partner...

Financial Post
Apr 2nd, 2025
JM Test Systems Acquires ASI

JM Test Systems, a provider of test equipment solutions, has acquired Alabama Scale & Instrument, Inc. (ASI) to expand its testing and calibration capabilities in the Southeast. This acquisition aligns with JM Test's mission to simplify test equipment for customers and follows its recent acquisition of BHD Instrumentation. JM Test, acquired by Kanbrick in 2023, aims to grow by acquiring businesses that share its commitment to quality and reliability.

Business Wire
Feb 24th, 2025
Kanbrick Announces Growth Partnership with Alchemy Analytical Group

Kanbrick announces growth partnership with Alchemy Analytical Group.