A best-in-class CFO for an $800m family-owned business

The brief: A best-in-class CFO for an $800m family-owned sourcing and supply business of recyclable materials, operating across three businesses and in 75 countries.

Our client is a long-standing leader in the circular economy, with a number of businesses working across the collection and distribution of recyclable and reusable materials and waste collection solutions.

As part of a new 5-year strategy, the family were looking to transition from Owner-Operators of their businesses to Chairman-Investors, and were facilitating this with the establishment of a holding company. Our brief was to conduct an international search for an inaugural CFO with a strong understanding of capital allocation and M&A, as well as a focus on value creation and change, to play a key role in this transition. Candidates needed experience of building and leading a world-class finance function, with excellent technical ability across finance and treasury functions and an understanding of the implications of international work. They would also be comfortable with an atypical governance model and aligned with the business’ distinctive culture and values, with an entrepreneurial drive and ambition for growth.

Our executive search process targeted finance leaders of internationally focused businesses of comparable scale. We sought candidates in leading family-owned businesses and family offices in the UK as well as FTSE 350 businesses in a variety of sectors including industrial services, automotive and retail. We also considered private equity-backed businesses of sufficient scale with international operations, as well as investment banks.

The appointed candidate had a background in family-owned businesses and was previously CFO for a family foundation.