PE Acquired Us and We Need a New CEO
After a private equity acquisition, the fastest way to protect value is an interim CEO who can execute the first year of the value creation plan while the fund runs a permanent search. Interim beats a rushed permanent hire because the plan is already written and the clock starts on day one.
Why interim first
- Value creation plan starts on day one
- No 4 to 9 month drift while searching
- Fund and portfolio company learn what the seat really needs
- Permanent hire based on evidence, not pitch
What the first 100 days deliver
A working operating cadence, a refreshed budget aligned to the LBO model, a read of the leadership team the fund can trust, and a shortlist of two or three permanent CEO profiles that fit what the business actually needs after 100 days of operating reality.
When to convert to permanent
Convert only if the interim is clearly the right long term profile and both sides want it. Most interim to permanent conversions fail because the interim was chosen for stabilisation, not for the next five years. Better to hand over cleanly.
https://niklaslindahl.com/guides/pe-acquired-us-need-new-ceo