Looking for Recommended Operators Ready to Step Into the CEO Seat

Hi SearchFunder community, I'm looking to connect with experienced operators - CEO, President, or GM level - who are thinking about their next acquisition opportunity. We're Five Experts, a lower-middle-market diligence and value creation firm. We work with independent sponsors who have the capital and the thesis but need the right operator before they close. The model is operator-first: we identify the right CEO, then go find the company to acquire around them. What we're looking for: - 5+ years running a business with full P&L ownership - Verifiable results (EBITDA growth, turnaround, or successful exit) - Equity-motivated - willing to take below-market base for meaningful ownership (5-20%) - Comfortable in lean, founder-built SMB environments What you get: - Thesis-matched introductions to vetted sponsors (no cold outreach on your end) - Full diligence support pre-close so you know what you're walking into by the top experts at this stage - Real decision authority from Day 1 - And this is the part most firms skip: we stay. Five Experts works alongside you as an active value creation partner for the full 5-year hold - leadership advisory, strategic planning, fractional expert access, add-on M&A sourcing, and exit preparation. We don't hand you the keys and disappear. If you've completed a search, exited a hold, or are between roles and want to do it again with the right capital and support behind you, I'd love to connect. Drop a comment or DM / connect with me directly. Stephanie Five Experts redacted (###-###-####