building boards & management teams for investor backed businesses

Danny Vanner, Founder & Managing Partner

Hello, I am Danny Vanner, Founder at Equity Executive, a firm which specialises in building boards and management teams for investor backed businesses.

I founded the firm in 2016 after almost a decade in search and recruitment.

I love business and am privileged that for over a decade I have been able to work with ambitious and astute business leaders and investors, learn about their interesting, innovative, high potential and high growth businesses and provide vital leadership solutions.

I pride myself on running a search firm which provides an exceptional service and return for clients.

Understanding The Challenges Investor Backed Businesses Face

Equity Executive work closely with clients to fully understand their business, vision, strategy and key challenges.

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

Recruiting Leaders To Overcome These Challenges & Grow

Fully understanding their business challenges, Equity Executive know the types of leaders clients then need to achieve success and work closely with clients to recruit these types of leaders.

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, 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 return for shareholders