Insights
Falcon has been providing insights into the private equity talent space for over a decade. Review some of the highlights of our archive below. For the most up-to-date articles, events, and analysis, log into your personal profile at https://falconcxo.com/
Private equity sponsors have never relied more on stellar management teams to drive return on investment. Yet in their effort to acquire high-impact human capital, funds often unknowingly leverage outdated or inefficient processes that hinder their ability to land true “best athletes.”
Chief amo...
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Private equity sponsors require strong management teams who can create value inside their portfolio investments. Identifying this special grade of executive necessitates a detailed and thorough evaluation process designed to separate the exceptional from the ordinary. In this Q&A, Falcon’s Lind...
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The second spike of U.S. Covid-19 cases stalled office reopening plans across the nation.
Though overall daily cases are again trending downward, the fall and winter flu season – which many experts believe will further complicate efforts to combat the virus – is rapidly approaching.
With so m...
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Private equity insiders rely on a specific vocabulary that defines their technical and behavioral approach to value creation. In this Q&A, Falcon's Rob Huxtable details how the distinct language of private equity can impact sponsor-operator dynamics.
How important is it for portfolio company...
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Pricing is among the most direct and potentially lucrative value-creation levers private equity portfolio companies have at their disposal.
Based on information from D&B Hoovers and an analysis by McKinsey & Company, a 1.0% pricing improvement translates to a 6.0% increase in EBITDA for ...
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High stakes and fierce competition make private equity the ‘big leagues’ of the business world. Fittingly, many former competitive athletes have thrived amidst its pressure-packed environments. Aside from the obvious parallels, how might such a background better prepare an executive to prosper in P...
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Operationally-oriented CFOs capable of genuine value creation across multiple functions have ousted the reclusive finance chief of yesteryear.
For companies dealing in physical products, the ability to effectively “walk the floor” is a vital trait for CFOs.
“Sponsors want a white-collar brain...
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Falcon's Success Stories cast a spotlight on private equity-backed operators and the tools and tactics they leverage to create real value. In each entry, a world-class executive details a practical solution to a critical business issue. To be featured, contact us with the subject line "Success Stor...
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Video interviews are a vital component of most modern hiring processes. Executives seeking career advancement should know how the medium can magnify a candidate's attention to detail — or lack thereof. Lindsay Guzowski, Partner at Falcon, leads C-Suite searches for a number of leading middle-market...
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Falcon's Success Stories cast a spotlight on private equity-backed operators and the tools and tactics they leverage to create real value. In each entry, a world-class executive details a practical solution to a critical business issue. To be featured, contact us with the subject line "Success St...
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Falcon's Success Stories cast a spotlight on private equity-backed operators and the tools and tactics they leverage to create real value. In each entry, a world-class executive details a practical solution to a critical business issue. To be featured, contact us with the subject line "Success St...
read more
Many C-suite executives have been forced to adopt video calls as a replacement for face-to-face interaction. Those who treat this development as merely a temporary annoyance risk becoming a casualty of the remote work revolution. Leaders invested in creating high-performance cultures must understan...
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America’s moment of reckoning around systemic racism is seeping into the corporate setting.
Many high-profile CEOs have issued statements in support of racial equality and social justice, but they do so primarily as White individuals with predominately White teams. A McKinsey & Company analy...
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Fierce competition, historically cheap debt and stunning amounts of dry powder have driven buyout multiples to record highs. Therefore, funds must deploy capital despite risk, or even probability, of contracting multiples in coming years. As such, sponsors will continuously need to increase relianc...
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Leaders aspiring to a career in private equity must understand their resume is equivalent to the executive summary of a prospectus for a $100+ mm solution.
Best case, flawed resumes create headwinds heading into an interview. Worst case, they derail an executive's candidacy entirely. ...
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According to Deloitte, sponsor-backed CFO turnover is as high as 80%. A CFO’s ability to select the right opportunity (or wisely avoid the wrong one) is thus essential.
Sponsors and CEOs cannot be counted on to prov...
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Private equity-backed CFOs who lack an accurate fact base struggle to provide the deep management information required to drive top-quartile returns.
While establishing a reliable data set is often considered table stakes among sponsors, many finance chiefs find it to be a prodigious obstacle.
...
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Private equity firms are renowned for utilizing highly analytical, data-driven processes to identify deals and maximize return on investment.
Yet despite this reputed attention to detail, funds often reject qualified portfolio company candidates on the basis of a vague criteria: cultural fit.
...
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Falcon is pleased to announce two promotions: Brandon Mihalo and Brandt Slayton, both to Associate.
Mihalo has been with Falcon January 2019 and his move to Associate is a well-deserved promotion. He will continue to support the firm's private equity-backed CEO and CFO searches through efficien...
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New PE-backed CFOs often find inherited teams lack the expertise and horsepower to maximize return on investment.
That was among the key findings in a recent Vardis survey of over 1,250 North American private equity portfolio company CFOs.
Only 4% of PE-backed CFO respondents report keeping ...
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Lindsay Guzowski, Partner at Falcon, leads C-Suite searches for a number of leading, middle market private equity firms. Her research on leadership and culture has been published in prominent peer-reviewed journals. In this Q&A, she details how an executive’s online persona can impact career tr...
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Private equity’s requirement for great C-suite leadership is proving to be pandemic-proof.
Though platform origination has slowed amidst the Covid-19 outbreak, PE firms continue to pursue elite talent. While Falcon has delivered several high-impact placements in recent months, filling a PE-back...
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FALCON has recruited Eric Harber to join Riverside Company’s MicroCap Fund. Eric most recently served as CEO of Flowroute which was later acquired by a sponsor-backed buyer. Previously, Eric led Amazon's hyper-growth mobile payment business unit. Eric holds a BS from Stanford and an MBA from Duk...
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As published in Smart Business on February 24, 2020
C-suite level co-investment is a powerful tool, with at least three significant benefits: enhanced financial alignment between C-level leaders and their sponsor, additional wealth creation leverage for the executive and a powerful career decisi...
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Cleveland, Ohio - February 17, 2020 - FALCON is pleased to welcome two leaders to the nest: Brandon Hall joins as Vice President and David Siegel named to Board of Advisors.
Hall joins the firm as VP of Content and will focus on driving the development and scale of the FALCON/CEO and FALCON/CEO...
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Falcon has completed the CFO search for OEConnection (OEC), backed by Genstar Capital, with the recruitment of Christopher Chapman. Prior to joining OEC, Chris was the CFO for publicly-traded Diebold Nixdorf. At Diebold Nixdorf he held a number of senior, global financial roles throughout his 20-y...
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Falcon has completed the CFO search for ALICE Safety Institute, backed by The Riverside Company, with the recruitment of Andrew Ross. Prior to joining ALICE Andrew provided corporate finance, strategy & valuation services for a number of private equity-backed businesses. Earlier in his career...
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As published in Smart Business on December 20, 2019
Private equity boards and their portfolio company CEOs generally presume alignment through financial elements such as incentive compensation, equity participation and co-investment.
However, three specific behavioral challenges can still fes...
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Falcon has completed the CEO search for Bettcher Industries, backed by MPE Parnters, with the recruitment of Tim Swason. Prior to joining Bettcher, Peter served as President of Barnes Group's Engineered Components Group and VP/GM of a pair of ITW businesses.
About Bettcher IndustriesBettcher...
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Falcon has completed the CFO search for Performance Systems Integration (PSI), backed by The Riverside Company, with the recruitment of Todd Thompson. Prior to joining PSI, Todd served as Director of Finance of Ichor Systems and in a number of corporate finance roles for Xerox.
About...
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Falcon has completed the CEO search for ALICE Training Institute, backed by The Riverside Company, with the recruitment of JP Guilbault. Prior to joining ALICE , JP served as CEO of Community Brands and CEO of YourMembership.com.
About ALICEALICE is the leading provider of SaaS based...
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Falcon has completed the CEO search for Pro-Vigil, backed by The Riverside Company, with the recruitment of Peter Evans. Prior to joining Pro-Vigil, Peter served as CEO of Pristin Inc. and CMO of Optiv Security.
About Pro-VigilPro-vigil provides remote monitoring solutions for a...
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Falcon has completed the COO search for Apex Companies, backed by Sentinel Capital Partners, with the recruitment of JP Darwin Nelson. Prior to Apex, Darwin served as President of Tetra Tech AEG and previously as President of CDM Smith’s North America Unit.
About Apex CompaniesApex...
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Falcon has completed the COO search for Community Brands, backed by Insight Partners, with the recruitment of David Wirta. Prior to joining Community Brands, David served as the President of Vology and prior, in an Operating Executive capacity for Vista Equity Partners .
About Commun...
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FALCON has completed the CEO search for Trademark Global, backed by Bertram Capital, with the recruitment of John Snowden. Prior to joining Trademark, John was President & COO of Integrated Supply Network .
About Trademark GlobalTrademark Global is a pioneer in the e-Commerce mar...
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Falcon has completed the CFO search for Flow Control, private equity-backed by Bertram Capital, with the recruitment of Hans Van der Meulen. Prior to joining Flow, Hans was a senior finance executive with private equity-backed Syncreon.
About Flow ControlFlow Control Group is a leadi...
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Falcon has completed the CEO search for private equity-backed, BearCom with the recruitment of Bob Craycraft. Prior to joining Bearcom, Bob served as CEO of Permira-backed BakerCorp and prior, as CEO of Warburg Pincus-backed Safety-Kleen.
About BearComBearCom is a leading, value-add...
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FALCON has completed the CFO search for private equity-backed, AdhereHealth with the recruitment of Gregg Haddad. Prior to joining AdhereHealth, Gregg was CFO of Avalon Health Services .
About AdhereHealth
AdhereHealth is a technology solutions leader supporting health plans, self-insured em...
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FALCON has recruited Steve Richards to join Riverside Company's Capital Appreciation Fund. Steve is proven, private equity-backed operator with deep Business Services sector experience. Steve most recently served as CEO of Apollo-backed, Mood Media. Prior to Mood, Steve served as ...
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