Headhunter for Bolt-On Acquisition’s Operator

August 27, 2023
by an investor from University of Puget Sound in Seattle, WA, USA
Does anyone have experience using a headhunting/recruiting firm for a bolt on acquisition’? I’ve done two acquisitions (platform 6 years ago then a bolt-on 2 years ago) and have been able to act as CEO in both as they were in the Seattle area. This (~15 employees) is in LA with industry overlap, but I personally wouldn’t be able to relocate.
We currently have ~20 employees and I’ve trained an operations manager with tremendous talent that’s grown with us over the past 3 years as we’ve built systems/processes who may be willing to move, but he’s in his early 20s and there are quite a few folk at the target co who have been at the business for 20+ years so more experience may help to smooth attrition in the post-transition short term. Any executive recruiting experience would help!
from University of Western Ontario in Toronto, ON, Canada
from Western Michigan University in Grand Rapids, MI, USA
My first choice would be to hire someone already on your team who can relocate. The second choice would be an internal candidate already working for the acquisition target. Then I would weigh my confidence in a new hire vs. is this deal really worth taking on that kind of risk.