building boards & management teams for investor backed businesses

Understanding The Challenges Investor Backed Businesses Face

I’m Danny Vanner, Managing Partner at Equity Executive. For over a decade I have been working with business leaders and investors recruiting new leadership for their companies. I understand the challenges ambitious, investor backed businesses face:

Scalability Challenges

Needing to professionalise the workforce and develop strategies to attract and retain sort after talent to increase output and invest in systems so that as headcount and client base increases delivery is maintained

Investor Challenges

needing to understand what investors want and provide the insight they require. Needing to manage the pressure to scale quickly given investors typical exit schedule of 5 to 7 years

Financial Challenges

needing to manage cashflow, heavy upfront investment, high costs and lagging growth at times. Needing to manage heavy reporting and debt servicing requirements

Leadership Challenges

needing to hire proven leaders to take the business to the next level. Needing to maintain the vision and values whilst adding new talent and perspectives

Market Challenges

needing to develop deep and broad market knowledge to manage market pressures including macroeconomic trends, market conditions, competition and availability and cost of resources

Helping Clients Recruit Leaders To Overcome These Challenges

Once I fully understand the challenges my client is facing I then help them recruit new leadership who can come into their business, help them overcome the challenges they are facing and ultimately make their company successful:

Strategic Leaders

have the nous and will dedicate time to developing an effective strategy addressing revenue growth, operational efficiencies, investment in talent and tech, acquisition opportunities and possible paths to exit

Committed & Adaptive Leaders

are ambitious as to what is possible for the business and will work at pace to make it happen, fully commit to decisions but also recognise when things are not working and can quickly adapt their strategy and execution

Innovative & Resourceful Leaders

are creative with limited resources, are able to think outside the box and come up with solutions to difficult challenges and turn challenges into opportunities

Investor Smart Leaders

will nurture good relationships with investors by understanding what investors want and providing investors with the insight they are looking for

Financially Astute Leaders

will put the business on a sound financial footing for growth by prudently managing investment, lagging growth, cash flow, heavy reporting and debt servicing requirements

Operationally Astute Leaders

will put the business on a sound operational footing for growth by consistently developing and upgrading talent, technology, systems and processes

Commercially Astute Leaders

will scale the business by developing innovative product suites, building strong commercial functions and effectively utilising teams across the business in pursuit of immediate milestones and strategic goals

Exit Smart Leaders

will sell the business by getting it sale ready, positioning it favourably to potential acquirers, managing due diligence and playing a key role in negotiating a good price for shareholders