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Chief Executive Officer

Testing, Compliance & Certification Platform — New Buy-and-Build Launch

Location: Remote pre-close; very likely on-site post-close (ultimately TBD); geography is not a filter

The Opportunity

We are partnering with a private equity-backed platform to recruit a Chief Executive Officer to launch a new buy-and-build in the testing, compliance, and certification space. This is an M&A-led mandate first and an operating role second: the large majority of the job is sourcing, evaluating, negotiating, and closing acquisitions and then integrating what's acquired, not running steady-state operations of a business that already exists.

This is a build-from-scratch role for someone who wants to run their own deals and then own what they build, not join an established platform. The client is highly selective and typically narrows several thousand applicants down to a handful based on a strict set of filters: 2 or fewer jobs in the last 5 years, stellar references, a track record of top-ranked performance, strong academic markers (undergraduate GPA, GMAT/GRE where applicable), and a genuine interest in doing deals, not just operating a business that already exists.

The Firm

Firm type: Private, value-oriented holding company (permanent-capital model)

Our client is a low-profile, value-oriented holding vehicle modeled after Berkshire Hathaway that aims to acquire approximately $150 million of businesses every year (roughly $75 million of equity).

The founders and investment team come from Apollo Global Management (~$60bn private equity group) and Viking Global Investors (~$30bn hedge fund). The firm operates a number of subsidiaries, or ‘platforms’ (also known as rollups, aggregations, or buy-and-builds). Each platform is capitalized with a long-term equity base, drawn from the firm's own capital and select partners such as insurance companies and endowment managers, and has the sole mandate of compounding cash flows for the long term, primarily through M&A. The firm looks broadly across industries, geographies, and the capital structure, though its primary focus is on rollups. It is investing out of a recently raised $100 million+ holding vehicle.

The Platform: Testing, Compliance & Certification

This is a new platform launch — no asset has closed yet. The focus is on businesses that provide testing, inspection, certification, and compliance services in and around regulated industries. As an example of the type of opportunity in the pipeline, the client is currently evaluating a consulting firm that handles regulatory certification and compliance for nursing homes. The specific first acquisition is still to be determined, and the incoming CEO will play a direct role in sourcing and shaping it.

The Role

In the first 12 to 24 months especially, the large majority of the CEO's time goes to deal work: identifying, evaluating, negotiating, and closing acquisitions, then personally running integration rather than handing it to a deal team. This is not a pure allocator or investment-committee role — it's hands-on, executional M&A work: running diligence, negotiating directly with sellers, and managing lawyers, accountants, and advisors through close. Operating leadership of the acquired businesses is real and grows as the platform scales, but early on it takes a back seat to sourcing and closing deals. Success requires operating with limited resources and imperfect information, and personally solving problems that would be delegated to a larger team in a bigger organization.

M&A / Deal Execution (~80%)

•       Source and evaluate acquisition opportunities, in coordination with the platform's M&A team, to deploy approximately $40 million of equity.

•       Run diligence, structure and negotiate terms, and manage the process through to close alongside lawyers, accountants, and advisors.

•       Lead the integration of each acquired business and build a repeatable playbook for future acquisitions.

Operational Leadership (~20%)

•       Provide operating leadership and strategic direction for acquired business units following close.

•       Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and resource allocation through clear KPIs, and hold team members accountable for performance.

•       Recruit, train, and develop the management team as the platform grows.

Role Trade-offs

•       (+) You will be an early team member at a high-growth holding company, building a platform from the ground up.

•       (+) You will work with and learn from a highly successful PE team with a top investing track record.

•       (+) You will have a big title and significant autonomy and responsibility, including real deal-sourcing responsibility from day one.

•       (+) You will have a lot of fun in a scrappy, entrepreneurial environment.

•       (=) The mandate leans heavily toward deal work and integration rather than steady-state operating management, at least in the platform's early years.

•       (−) If joining a large, established company with a big brand is appealing to you, or you'd rather run an existing business than build one through acquisition, this opportunity is not a fit.

What We're Screening For

•       Deal experience: 2+ years in investment banking and/or private equity, with direct, hands-on experience sourcing, evaluating, and executing deals — this is the core of the job, not a nice-to-have.

•       Low career turnover: 2 or fewer jobs in the last 5 years, excluding business school and related internships.

•       Stellar references: References that speak to work ethic, kindness, and honesty. Our process relies heavily on off-sheet references — we typically connect with 5+ past co-workers and senior colleagues (we will not contact your current employer without your permission).

•       High ranking / previous performance: A track record of top-ranked performance in prior roles, corroborated by references.

•       Benchmarks of excellence: Strong undergraduate GPA, a top-tier analyst or associate class ranking, and a strong GMAT/GRE score where applicable. Not always determinative, especially alongside stellar references, but there is signal here and we use it.

•       Operational execution: Once a deal closes, highly organized and detail-oriented, highly responsive, consistent, and able to run point on execution across multiple workstreams and counterparties.

•       Nice to have: MBA preferred; an additional credential such as a JD alongside a finance background is viewed positively.