Chief Executive Officer

Opportunity overview

This role is for the Chief Executive Officer of a newly created private equity-backed platform company based in the Minneapolis–St. Paul metro area. The business was formed by combining two complementary operating companies and is being developed as the foundation for a broader acquisition-led growth strategy backed by a well-capitalized investor.

The ownership group has set out a clear value creation plan aimed at driving growth through both internal expansion and strategic acquisitions. Over an expected 5- to 7-year investment period, the company is intended to broaden its reach, deepen its service offering, grow its customer base, and increase enterprise value ahead of a future exit.

The company is looking for a CEO who can unify the existing businesses, establish a scalable operating model, lead acquisitions, and work closely with the Board and investors to deliver meaningful value creation. The package includes a competitive base salary, annual performance bonus, and substantial equity participation tied to company performance and a potential liquidity event.

Role summary

The CEO will carry ultimate responsibility for the company’s strategic direction, operating performance, financial outcomes, and organizational leadership. Reporting to the Board of Directors and partnering closely with the private equity sponsor, the executive will guide integration of the founding businesses while advancing organic growth, operational discipline, M&A execution, and team development.

This position suits a leader who has grown organizations through transformation, integration, and scale, and who can create a strong culture of accountability, performance, and customer focus.

Key responsibilities

• Shape and implement the company’s growth strategy in collaboration with the Board and investors.
• Drive delivery of the private equity sponsor’s value creation roadmap.
• Set annual operating plans, budgets, and measurable performance targets.
• Lead initiatives that improve revenue, profitability, and overall enterprise value.
• Position the organization as a leading player in its market.
• Assess new markets, expansion options, and strategic investment opportunities.
• Oversee the integration and optimization of the founding businesses.
• Align teams, systems, processes, and culture across the platform.
• Build an organizational structure that can support future scale.
• Recruit, coach, and retain strong leadership talent.
• Create clear accountability and performance management practices.
• Foster a high-performance, improvement-oriented culture.
• Lead sales, marketing, customer success, and business development efforts.
• Improve revenue growth, market share, and customer retention.
• Strengthen commercial discipline, forecasting, pipeline management, and sales execution.
• Expand existing accounts and pursue new growth opportunities.
• Support market expansion and broader commercial initiatives.
• Work with ownership on sourcing, evaluating, and executing acquisitions.
• Take part in diligence, integration planning, and value creation analysis.
• Lead post-deal integration and synergy capture efforts.
• Establish repeatable acquisition integration processes and best practices.
• Embed acquired businesses into the wider platform successfully.
• Build the infrastructure needed for a long-term buy-and-build strategy.
• Improve operational efficiency, scalability, and execution capability.
• Implement KPI-based management across functions.
• Identify and deliver process improvement initiatives.
• Support margin expansion and operational performance gains.
• Ensure the operating model can sustain long-term growth.
• Develop dashboards and reporting that provide clear organizational visibility.
• Hold full P&L ownership and accountability.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and strategic planning.
• Deliver EBITDA growth and stronger financial performance.
• Track key financial and operating metrics closely.
• Support reporting requirements for lenders, investors, and the Board.
• Make disciplined capital allocation and investment decisions.
• Serve as the main operating partner for the Board and ownership group.
• Present results, forecasts, strategic priorities, and acquisition opportunities.
• Provide regular updates on performance and value creation progress.
• Support future capital allocation and strategic decisions.
• Help prepare the company for a successful future liquidity event.
• Maintain strong relationships with investors, lenders, and other stakeholders.

Candidate profile

The preferred candidate is an experienced executive who has successfully scaled businesses, improved operations, and created value in private equity-backed environments. The right person will combine strategic thinking, commercial instinct, operational rigor, financial discipline, and acquisition integration capability.

Required qualifications

• Background as a CEO, President, Division President, General Manager, COO, or comparable senior leader with significant P&L responsibility.
• Proven success leading organizations through growth and change.
• Strong history of improving revenue and operating performance.
• Experience building and leading high-performing executive teams.
• Solid financial understanding and broad business management capability.
• Ability to create and execute strategic growth plans.
• Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience guiding organizations through change, integration, and scaling.

Preferred background

• Experience in a private equity-backed company.
• Exposure to platform-company leadership or a buy-and-build strategy.
• Acquisition integration experience.
• Direct experience working with Boards of Directors and institutional investors.
• Multi-site or multi-business leadership experience.
• History of driving value creation and successful exit outcomes.
• Experience operating within a 5- to 7-year investment cycle.

Leadership characteristics

• Strong sense of ownership and personal accountability.
• Entrepreneurial mindset balanced with operating discipline.
• Strategic thinker with a practical, hands-on style.
• Comfortable leading through complexity, scale, and change.
• Commercially minded and customer-focused.
• Uses data to guide decisions.
• Strong executive presence and communication ability.
• Can align investors, leaders, employees, and customers.
• Results-driven with a bias for execution.

Compensation and equity

• Competitive executive base salary.
• Performance-based annual bonus.
• Meaningful equity participation.
• Comprehensive executive benefits package.
• Long-term incentive structure.
• Material wealth-creation potential through a future exit event.

Why this opportunity stands out

This is a rare chance to lead a newly formed private equity-backed platform company at a pivotal point in its growth journey. With the combination of two strong businesses already completed, the foundation is set for acceleration through organic initiatives and acquisitions.

The sponsor is committed to investing behind the strategy over the next 5 to 7 years, creating the opportunity to build a larger, more valuable business. The CEO will have the chance to shape the organization’s future, build a strong leadership team, integrate acquisitions, and participate directly in value creation through significant equity ownership.

For an executive who wants to build a market-leading platform, improve operational excellence, execute acquisitions, and generate substantial enterprise value, this role offers a compelling mix of autonomy, resources, growth potential, and financial upside.