One of the top concerns in private equity right now is top talent recruitment. Ideally firms are proactively creating a bench of people that can be called on for the C Suite or the boardroom either before the deal or post-deal. It can take months to conduct a traditional search for experienced executives, so private… Read More

A fleeting moment and anything can change. We often think we have control of what is next, but often we are surprised, confused and found in a place for which we are not ready. There you are, in your executive role, with all indicators that you are performing, its working and everyone, including the board… Read More

In last week’s post, Investor Expectations – Boards of Directors, I began to examine what investors expect from their boards of directors where they invest.  I dove into investor trends, shareholder activism, board skill requirements and board diversity. Expanding on last week’s post, this week I will dive further into what investors expect from their… Read More

Although investor activism campaigns are on the rise, it is not just the activist investors who have become more vocal.  In fact, investors in general are becoming increasingly vocal about their expectations of boards of directors.  So, what are the current investor expectations of the boards of directors where they invest? How do investors evaluate… Read More

In a recent post, I discussed the basics of private equity terminology so I thought it would be helpful to drill further into Limited Partners (LPs), the LPs relationship with the private equity firm (GP) and how the relationship between the two works.  In order for the LP/GP relationship to be successful, they must be… Read More

In prior posts, I have discussed various topics related to corporate boards, such board recruitment, timing and compensation.  But, what if you have found yourself serving on your first corporate board?  How will you know the steps for effective board meeting preparation? Not only will it help you, but preparation before and between board meetings… Read More

As we continue to examine the ingredients of a successful board of directors, another ingredient, board culture is tantamount to a board’s success. Board culture affects decision-making and the directors’ relationship with management, impacting their ability to advise executive management and provide the necessary oversight. Because of this, a board needs to understand its culture,… Read More

Given a lot of my time is spent in the lower and middle market private equity arena, I am currently getting a lot of questions about crowdfunding.  Many of our client executives are asking me – What is crowdfunding and how does it really work?  Whether you are a Summit Executive Resources executive client, or… Read More

Many of my clients aspire to be hired by a private equity firm and primarily for an executive role or independent directorship in one of the firm’s portfolio companies.  More so than the deal side, there is increasing interest in the role of operating partner.  In some initial discussions, I realize that although aspiring, some… Read More

“The single most important thing is to make sure you have the right leadership for the business. In a world economy that remains prone to macro shocks, the firms we work for are looking for expertise and a successful record, but equally important, CEOs who really want to make a difference transforming a company.” —… Read More