Field operations expert needed for niche industry

SVP needs expert to improve operations performance for construction services portco

An SVP of a northeast-based PE firm came to us with an urgent need for an ops performance and improvement expert that could improve the management of their construction services portco’s field ops team. The PE firm was not confident in the head of field ops strategic leadership abilities and had noticed technician productivity was down and technician churn was up. They quickly needed a field ops expert who had seen a wide range of sizes and sophistications in field operations teams, and ideally had a strategic HR lens, to observe their teams and diagnose and roadmap improvements that could be made in order to increase productivity and reduce churn. The PE firm was looking to engage a provider immediately.

BluWave has pre-vetted operations performance consultant within network

Leveraging our founder’s 20 years in private equity, we have extensive frameworks for assessing PE-grade operations performance & improvement needs. BluWave utilizes technology, data, and human ingenuity to pre-map, assess, monitor, and maintain deep pools of operations consultants that uniquely meet the private equity standard. We interviewed the PE firm to understand their specific key criteria, and then connected the client with the select BluWave-vetted operations consultants from our invitation-only Intelligent Marketplace that fit their exacting needs.

Firm engages expert to drive operational improvement in portco

Within 24 hours of the request, the PE firm was introduced to three exact-fit operations performance & improvement providers that specialized in working with growing services businesses to improve their field operations team. The client selected and engaged their top choice, and the service provider was able to immediately assess gaps, identify opportunities, and create an improvement roadmap for the company.

 

Q2 2022 BluWave Insights

Every quarter our team analyzes the projects we work on with our 500+ PE firm clients to get a birdseye view of the market. You can request your copy here to view all of the trends that we have seen over the past quarter.

Key findings from Q2 include value creation remaining strong due to the record number of deals made at robust valuation multiples during 2021, inflation continuing to wreak havoc on global economies, and the recessionary pressures availing substantial opportunities for all of the best business builders.

Learn more about the insights we gleaned from the report by watching the video below.

To request the full the report, click here.

Video transcript:

BluWave has a unique vantage in the North American economy. While working with more than 500 of the world’s top business builders, we’re able to understand unique insights into how and why the best business builders in the world are assessing opportunities and building value in their portfolio companies. Here are some of the unique insights we generated during Q2 2022. The name of the game in the second quarter was value creation. Value creation accounted for 68% of all activity funneled through the BluWave engine. Value creation was so robust during this last quarter for a number of reasons. Number one, private equity firms invested in a large number of companies last year so they’re acting on those investments to begin transformation. Number two, deal flow is down. A lot of the best companies were sold last year. Other companies are pausing their ambitions as the economic cycle is softening and the results slow in kind. The other mega trend that is readily apparent in our data is the specter of inflation. The private equity industry is not resting on its laurels. It’s taking aggressive action to raise prices, reduce costs, and bring in the right people with the right skills for the current times. It’s our hope that the data and insights we’re sharing will help you build your business with more speed and certainty. If you’d like to learn more and get the full report, please contact any member of the BluWave team or follow a link below.

Urgent Analytics Expert To Create eCommerce Sales Strategy

Critical need for business analytics provider specializing in ecommerce sales

A middle market PE firm director came to us with an immediate need to optimize their portfolio company’s ecommerce sales via third-party platforms. With two of their primary sales channels being the world’s largest third-party ecommerce platforms, they knew they needed to optimize the opportunity that existed there. The PE firm and portfolio company were in need of a business analytics expert with a strong ecommerce background that could look at their third-party sales data and provide recommendations on how to increase the sales they made via these channels. They needed a provider that could provide holistic strategic recommendations that could be presented at the company’s board meeting in a couple of weeks.

Using our extensive network, BluWave identifies pre-vetted specialized provider

Leveraging our founder’s 20 years in private equity, we have extensive frameworks for assessing PE- grade business intelligence and analytics needs. BluWave utilizes technology, data, and human ingenuity to pre-map, assess, monitor, and maintain deep pools of analytics advisors that uniquely meet the private equity standard. We interviewed the PE firm to understand their specific key criteria, and then connected the client with the select pre-vetted specialized business analytics consultant from our invitation-only Intelligent Marketplace that fit their exacting needs.

Firm successfully connects to niche ecommerce analytics consultant

Within 24 hours, the PE firm was introduced to multiple, specialized service providers with the exact-fit niche ecommerce analytics experience they were looking for. The client confidently engaged with their selected consultant and was able to start the project immediately. The provider started the project by first understanding the client’s sales data that existed on these platforms and then began to draw insight on how opportunity in these channels could be optimized through key word optimization, product tagging, and more.

Ecommerce company hacked, operations shut down, critically needed support

Cyber breach led to urgent need for cybersecurity expert for portco

A private equity-backed ecommerce company suffered a cyber breach shutting down all operations. They urgently needed a cybersecurity expert that could assess the situation and remediate the breach in order to restart operations. At the time of outreach, the company did not know how or why the breach occurred, or the scope of the problem, but needed to restart operations immediately to serve their customers.

BluWave identified pre-vetted experts that met the client’s specific needs

The client reached out to BluWave on Friday afternoon shortly after the breach was discovered indicating their urgent need for assessment and action. BluWave has a deep network of cybersecurity specialists. We quickly interviewed the client to understand their specific needs and identified the select few cybersecurity providers that met their exacting requirements.

Client was connected to top expert within minutes

Within 15 minutes of scoping the client’s needs, BluWave put the company in contact with a best-in-class cybersecurity firm. The cybersecurity firm immediately sprung into action and began supporting the company on the same day that the breach occurred.

Pricing Strategy Expert Needed To Lift Revenue

Critical need for pricing strategy expert for B2C company

A PE-backed B2C company came to us with a critical need for a pricing strategy expert to maximize revenue. Since competing against big-box retailers, the company realized their need to set pricing that clearly conveyed the value of their offerings to their price-conscious and value-driven consumers. They set this objective as a top priority and urgently needed a PE-grade pricing strategy expert that had experience in the consumer products industry and could set a pricing and promotion strategy to maximize response rates and demand.

BluWave has in-network experts to connect with client

The client reached out to BluWave and within several hours, we interviewed the company to understand the details & nuances of their need. BluWave utilizes technology, data, and human ingenuity to pre-map assess, monitor, and maintain deep pools of best-in-class pricing strategy experts. Mapping the specifics of the company’s need to our marketplace of third-party resources, we identified two exact-fit pricing strategy experts for the client.

Company engages expert to maximize revenue

Quickly after the initial scoping call, the company was introduced to two PE-grade pricing strategy experts that specialized in the consumer products industry. The client selected their ideal choice. The B2C company was able to confidently drive an excellent outcome without wasting time and the client was able to quickly achieve its objective of maximizing response rates and demand through strategic pricing and an aggressive seasonal promotional schedule.

Vital Procurement Consulting Group for Supply Chain Issues

Manufacturing company in need of procurement consulting group

A food & beverage manufacturing company needed a procurement consulting group that could generate input cost savings. Having been recently acquired they needed a resource to develop and implement a sophisticated purchasing and procurement strategy for them. With COVID and inflation leading to supply chain issues and fluctuating prices on their raw materials, they urgently needed a procurement expert with experience in this specific section of the food and beverage raw materials market that could dig into the numbers and create a tactical plan.

BluWave identifies exact-fit provider meeting company-specific criteria

The client reached out to BluWave and within several hours, we interviewed the company to understand the details & nuances of their need. BluWave utilizes technology, data, and human ingenuity to pre-map assess, monitor, and maintain deep pools of best-in-class procurement consulting groups. Mapping the specifics of the company’s need to our network of third-party resources, we identified an exact-fit procurement consulting group for the client.

Company selects procurement consulting group, combatting supply chain issues

Quickly after the initial scoping call, we introduced the company to the exact-fit, pre-vetted service provider from our Intelligent Network that we had identified met their exacting criteria. The client confidently engaged the provider and they quickly helped the client get their procurement strategy on track while also cutting unnecessary costs in the supply chain.

Critical salesforce effectiveness training firm

Medical supplier has critical need to assess salesforce team and GTM strategy

A PE-backed medical supplier company came to us with a prompt need to assess their existing salesforce team and go-to-market strategy. The company’s sales team was struggling with a high turnover rate and they urgently needed to fix this, examine how to get the right team members in place, and determine how to keep them in place. They were also in need of a new GTM strategy that the salesforce could execute on once they had onboarded the right team members.

BluWave quickly identifies PE-grade providers

The company reached out to BluWave and within several hours, we interviewed them to understand the details & nuances of their need. BluWave utilizes technology, data, and human ingenuity to pre-map assess, monitor, and maintain deep pools of best-in-class salesforce effectiveness experts. Mapping the specifics of the company’s need to our Business Builders’ Network of third-party resources, we identified an exact-fit salesforce effectiveness and training firm for the client.

Company moves forward with exact-fit provider

On the same day that they initially reached out, the company was introduced to the exact-fit salesforce effectiveness and training firm that we identified in our Business Builders’ Network. The company immediately engaged the group and was able to start the project within 24 hours.

Imperative Sales Force Effectiveness and GTM Strategy Needed

PE firm urgently needs to assess effectiveness of sales team at healthcare portco

A middle-market PE firm Partner came to us with a prompt need to assess the existing sales team and go-to-market strategy at one of their portfolio companies that provides medical equipment and asset management services to the healthcare industry. The founder-owned portco was struggling with a high turnover rate and urgently needed to examine how to get the right sales team members in place. They were also in need of a new GTM strategy that they could execute once they had the right team in place. Having previously completed Voice of Customer (VoC) work, portco leadership was ready to take the next step.

BluWave identifies PE-grade consulting firms specific to the firm’s needs

Leveraging our founder’s 20 years in private equity, we have extensive frameworks for assessing PE-grade sales effectiveness and GTM strategy needs. BluWave utilizes technology, data, and human ingenuity to pre-map, assess, monitor, and maintain deep pools of sales and GTM strategists that uniquely meet the private equity standard. We interviewed the PE firm to understand their specific key criteria, and then connected the client with the select pre-vetted consulting firms from our invitation-only Business Builder’s Network that fit their exacting needs.

Firm engages with presented provider and moves forward to improve portco strategy

Within the same day of reaching out, the PE firm was introduced to a specialized sales effectiveness & training firm with additional experience developing GTM strategies for PE-backed companies. The client immediately engaged with this group and was able to start the project within 24 hours. The service provider we connected them with began by assessing the current sales processes and team members within the portco’s two verticals and then worked with them on developing an improved strategy.

Interim CEO with Niche Manufacturing Expertise

Interim CEO with manufacturing expertise needed to help grow business

A principal at a LMM PE firm approached us with a critical need for an interim CEO with deep manufacturing expertise. Having held their manufacturing portfolio company for a full year, the firm was looking to bring in a new CEO in order to transition the old one out and grow the business. They had been searching for months for a replacement CEO but had not found one that fit their needs, so they were now in urgent need of an interim to help facilitate the transition of the old CEO while they kept searching for a permanent replacement. They needed an interim CEO as soon as possible that had knowledge of both standardized and customized machining processes and lean six sigma expertise.

Understanding the firm’s specific criteria, BluWave identifies pre-vetted interim CEOs

Leveraging our founder’s 20 years in private equity, we have extensive frameworks for assessing PE-grade interim CEO needs. BluWave utilizes technology, data, and human ingenuity to pre-map, assess, monitor, and maintain deep pools of experienced CEOs that uniquely meet the private equity standard. We interviewed the PE firm to understand their specific key criteria, and then connected the client with the select pre-vetted interim CEO candidates from our invitation-only Business Builders’ Network that fit their exact needs.

The firm engaged the CEO to improve the company’s business operations

Within 24 hours of the initial scoping call, the PE firm and portfolio company were introduced to a PE-grade interim CEO candidate that had years of PE-sponsored experience in manufacturing. The client was able to successfully bring in the interim within the needed timeframe to transition the old CEO out, make business improvements, and lead as well as improve their operations until the permanent hire could be made.

In The Know: Executive Search

As part of an ongoing series, we’re sharing real-time trending topics we are hearing from our 500+ PE firm clients. In our most recent installment, we discuss why leading PE firms are choosing to engage specialized executive search firms over larger generalist recruiting firms.

Learn more by watching the video below.

Interested in connecting with a specialized recruiter or any other type of third party? Contact us here. You can also learn more about the specific ways we drive value for PE firms by connecting them to the exact-fit resources they need by reading our case studies.

Interim CHRO Critically Needed To Integrate HR Department Platforms During A Merger

An interim CHRO was needed during a multi-business merger

A principal at a middle market PE firm came to us with a vital need for an interim CHRO for their new global consulting platform that was a merger of 3 companies. The platform was closing in 3 to 5 days, our client needed the interim CHRO as soon as possible. They needed an individual to lead the merging of the new platform’s three HR departments into one. The key swimlanes included:

  • Advising on future state systems
  • Developing an end-to-end solution for a comprehensive compensation and benefits plan for 100+ employees
  • Organizing their Human Resources Information System selection process
  • Migrating off their professional employer organizations

We quickly collected the specific requirements for the interim chief revenue officer from our client

Leveraging our founder’s 20 years in private equity, we have extensive frameworks for assessing PE-grade interim chief human resources officer needs. BluWave utilizes technology, data, and human ingenuity to pre-map, assess, monitor, and maintain deep pools of experienced HR leaders that uniquely meet the private equity standard. We interviewed the PE firm to understand their specific key criteria. After that, we connected the client with the select pre-vetted interim CHRO candidates from our invitation-only Business Builders’ Network that fit their exact needs.

Interim CHRO hired to lead the talent portion of the merger

Twenty-four hours after our initial scoping call, we introduced the PE firm and portfolio company to two PE-grade HR executive candidates. Both of the candidates had relevant functional, geographical, and middle market PE firm experience. After meeting with each of the candidates, our client selected their ideal choice. The interim executive was onboarded within the needed timeframe and successfully managed all HR aspects of the merger.

BluWave is here to help

We have a deep bench of PE-grade, pre-vetted interim CHROs that match your exact needs. Not sure if using an interim CHRO is right for your business? Check out our blog post highlighting some of our most common use cases for this critical resource. If you have an immediate need to hire an interim CHRO, let us know and we’ll connect you with the perfect resource for your needs.