Experience | Private Equity and Venture Capital

An investor group purchasing a largely neglected capital goods division of a Fortune 50 company planned to merge it with a German business in the same industry that was being spun off from its own parent company.

The merger necessitated the placement of a CFO who could oversee an ERP implementation and navigate the logistical aspects of bringing the two together as a single company. The candidate would also have to be well-versed in working with German social and business culture and with the high expectations and urgency found in a private equity environment.

At the start of the search, the wheels were already in motion and the two parts were set to become a company at a set date, further heightening the urgency of finding a candidate with the diverse set of skills and experiences needed to fulfill a difficult position. We were selected based on our track record of locating candidates who succeed in high pressure, fast paced environments such as the one presented in this search.

Before the official start date, the client was presented with a candidate who possessed a strong blend of all the criteria needed to succeed in the position. The candidate, who received and accepted an offer, had significant experience living and working in Germany, including modest fluency in German. The candidate was also familiar with the issues facing the two pieces being acquired and had substantial private equity experience, meaning the candidate understood the high expectations and the how quickly the company needed to get there.

Upon starting, the candidate successfully managed the ERP implementation and facilitated the development of two disparate pieces as a single entity.