Our firm has been retained to recruit an Executive Chairman for two portfolio companies of a Charlotte-based private equity investment firm that acquires or invests in lower, middle-market businesses.  Founded in 2006, the firm’s first fund is approximately $100MM.

The Executive Chairman will take an active management role in a $35MM professional engineering company headquartered in Fort Mill, S.C. that provides professional engineering and consulting to utilities throughout the U.S., as well as a $20MM fabricator and installer of natural stone for kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities, and other commercial and residential products that is headquartered in Sterling, VA.

Both of the portfolio companies have identified acquisition opportunities that will stretch their existing management teams.  Our client seeks an experienced operator who can provide hands-on guidance for these two companies.  Over time, they expect the successful candidate will play a meaningful operating role in other portfolio companies in this and successive funds.

Key qualifications include:

·        demonstrated operating experience with profit and loss responsibility for a stand-alone company or business unit of greater than $100MM; the ideal candidate will have led a company through significant growth periods, particularly through acquisition; 

·        tremendous leadership ability; the bent for taking responsibility, moving ahead and encouraging others; must have the self-confidence, integrity, intellect, and perseverance that inspires trust and confidence; will have excellent communications and interpersonal skills;

·        vision; the ideal candidate will possess the business savvy and strategic skills to quickly assess where a company is and put together an understandable plan for growth; must possess the judgment to provide insightful guidance to the company management teams;

·        financial acumen; the successful candidate must be completely comfortable with the “numbers” and how they illustrate the financial drivers of the business; must be capable of using the numbers to help the portfolio companies develop and implement operating metrics, policies, and procedures. 

A competitive compensation package with a significant wealth building component will be tailored to the successful candidate’s needs. 

If you have a personal interest in this position or thoughts of knowledgeable sources or potential candidates, please email  resume3@sockwell.com or resume8@sockwell.com.   Your suggestions will be kept in strictest confidence.