Service Provider Type: Specialized Executive Recruiting Firm
Industry: Manufacturing
The Need
Sporting Goods Transformation
A lower-middle market private equity fund needed new leadership for their portfolio company as the existing CEO was about to step down. The organization, which makes athletic and sporting equipment, sought a visionary CEO deeply entrenched in the sector who also had supply-chain experience in founder-owned businesses.
The Challenge
A Business in Flux
The sporting goods company spanned two vital sectors: basketball goals and recreational center equipment, and working through dealers and installers who are remodeling or building schools. They faced a tumultuous path forward, though. Projects were priced years in advance, resulting in a backlog of low-margin products. Escalating steel prices due to global supply-chain issues exacerbated the difficulties.
How BluWave Helped
Industry-Specific Executive Search Firm
BluWave tapped its invite-only network for a short-list a executive recruiting firms. Their mission was to locate a team who could place a new executive with extensive experience in catering to schools and recreational centers, coupled with the acumen to navigate the intricate supply chain.
The Result
Turnaround CEO Built for the Job
Thanks to the selected firm’s search, an accomplished CEO with a stellar track record in the sporting goods sector emerged as the ideal fit. This visionary leader not only brought industry expertise but also the ability to deftly manage the complex supply chain and tackle pricing dilemmas head-on. The company was not only stabilized, but began to thrive again under its new leadership.
Amid the drive for strengthened financial stewardship, an portfolio company embarked on a vital mission to secure an adept controller. This strategic hire would steer a tech-enabled business services firm towards reinvigorating its standing, targeting more than $100 million revenue and just below $10 million EBITDA in the post-pandemic landscape.
The Challenge
Balancing Transition and Empowerment
The resignation of the former controller in early 2021 prompted a transitional phase. The assistant controller stepped into the role temporarily, yet the company sought an accomplished, permanent figure to lead the financial team. This transition signified an opportunity to establish a dynamic financial strategy, positioning the firm for resurgence in a post-pandemic economy.
How BluWave Helped
Niche Recruiter Delivers
For the crucial controller recruitment, BluWave introduced a skilled recruiter specializing in financial talent acquisition. With a notable history of placing finance and accounting professionals and a deep understanding of the target market’s dynamics, the third-party service provider was primed for this task.
The Result
Next-Level Financial Strategy
The adept recruiter, renowned for her acumen in the local target market, launched into action. Backed by extensive experience in financial leadership placements, she skillfully aligned the client’s requisites with her expertise. As the recruitment journey unfolded, the promise of renewed financial stewardship and growth resonated, paving the way for revitalized operations, elevated financial resilience and sustained progress.
A prominent middle-market private equity firm recognized the importance of hiring a CEO with an exceptional ability to drive profit-focused growth within a professional services company. With a strong foundation in social impact, the client’s portfolio company, a leading provider of philanthropic advisory services, sought an operator capable of steering the organization to new heights.
The Challenge
Nurturing Vision with Profitability
The portfolio company, generating approximately $80 million in annual revenue, engaged in philanthropic advisory services, outsourced accounting for nonprofits and fiscal sponsorship. While successful in the social sector, the company needed a transformative leader to expand its profitability. The challenge lay in identifying a CEO experienced in both professional services and private equity, who could manage and own the P&L, while also leading a team that often comprised millennial staff.
How BluWave Helped
Exclusive PE-Vetted CEO Search
BluWave tapped its network of meticulously vetted executive recruitment firms with a PE focus for a targeted CEO search. The specialized recruiter the PE firm chose from the short list aimed to identify a visionary leader with experience in professional services, private equity and successful P&L management.
The Result
A Visionary CEO for Profitable Expansion
The chosen search firm presented a CEO with expertise extended across professional services and private equity. This visionary leader’s background encompassed transforming businesses within the professional services realm, backed by private equity experience. With a proven ability to own and manage P&L, the new CEO had the insight to boost the portfolio company’s annual revenue. This strategic placement not only addressed the immediate need for an operator but also positioned the company for accelerated growth within the philanthropic advisory landscape.
Industry: Manufacturing – Building and Construction
The Need
Interim HR Expertise for Transformation
Amid the need for strategic HR management, a building- and construction-focused PE firm sought a seasoned HR generalist to steer vital initiatives and oversee a distributed workforce for multiple portfolio companies. With the departure of the HR leader, the company required immediate support to uphold employee relations and operational excellence.
The Challenge
Managing Change and Distributed Workforce
The building and construction firm, encompassing 13 locations, encountered the challenge of nurturing a large and diverse workforce spanning multiple states. As they worked to strengthen HR functions and initiate key projects, the absence of a dedicated HR leader prompted the need for a temporary HR generalist capable of driving transformation in this dynamic environment.
How BluWave Helped
Expert HR Generalist Partner for Transformation
BluWave connected the PE firm with a skilled HR generalist who demonstrated a deep understanding of HR dynamics, change management and distributed workforce models. This accomplished professional not only managed key HR projects but also played a crucial role in employee relations, ensuring seamless communication and support during the transitional phase.
The Result
Strategic Initiatives and Enhanced Employee Relations
Through this partnership, the manufacturing firm achieved strategic milestones in HR management. The HR generalist’s expertise guided projects such as benefits enrollment, handbook rollout and employee onboarding. Furthermore, the focus on employee relations led to enhanced communication channels, fostering a positive and engaging workplace environment.
Filling Critical Sales Positions to Drive Expansion
A prominent private equity firm in the lower-middle market sought to rapidly fill two pivotal sales roles for a portfolio company in the manufacturing industry. The roles — a regional sales manager in the Midwest and a territory sales manager for the Pacific Northwest — required adept individuals capable of navigating intricate industrial buying processes. The firm needed aggressive sales professionals who could not only engage clients but also drive growth through strategic selling.
The Challenge
Matching Expertise with Manufacturing Sector
While industry-specific technical expertise wasn’t essential, the client was searching for candidates who possessed strong sales acumen. The candidate pool needed to exhibit a mastery of client engagement and the ability to proficiently close deals, a combination that could catalyze the company’s growth.
How BluWave Helped
Specialized Recruitment for Aggressive Sellers
Leveraging its close relationship with third-party non-executive recruiters, BluWave connected the PE firm with a specialized resource from the Business Builders’ Network. The recruiters then targeted individuals who could craft compelling sales narratives and nurture client relationships to drive expansion.
The Result
Accelerated Growth Through Strategic Hiring
The recruiter landed professionals who not only possessed the desired aggressive sales skills but also displayed a knack for strategic thinking within the manufacturing industry. By filling these key positions, the manufacturing company could now adeptly engage industrial clients, converting prospects into customers and driving growth.
