The role will take a hugely lucrative and high growth concept that has not been exploited in this market place and deliver an agreed set of objectives and strategic partnerships. Experience of this market place or related markets is essential.

The founder will consider MBI candidates who wish to join the business with equity. The “buy in” stake will be around £25,000 for a minority stake.

Please see the article here: http://www.insidermedia.com/insider/north-west/36819-how-can-businesses-find-right-management-teamnon-executives-maximise-value-business

The (anonymous) client remarked “Equinox Ventures not only took the time and effort to fully understand my business before providing a team of individuals to provide my exit, they also worked quickly and to the brief. They did in one month what I have been trying to do for twenty years!”

Ian Wright, Managing Director commented “Providing a controlled and project managed exit strategy for the Owner Manager is something we have done for many years. We realise that running an SME business is often a 7 day per week job and receiving professional advice is one thing but to put it into practice is another and this is where we add real value to the dealmkaing process.  We give the Owner Manager a route to exit without impacting on his/her running of the business.

As a result of our strong reputation, we continue to attract huge support and strong referrals from banks, professional advisory/accountancy firms and lawyers – not to mention our strong connections with the PE/VC community”.

Finding the right management team (or part thereof) or indeed appointing exceptional non-executive directors is not as easy as putting a round peg in a round hole. The techniques employed to search and select missing parts of the management team should stretch further than “recommended by a friend” or the local golf club! Bear in mind that the management team will likely be working closely with the founder to engineer a sale or management buyout (MBO) for at least a year and thus “personality fit” is often as crucial as technical expertise.

In the case of MBO/BIMBO [buy-in management buyout] situations, we use various tried and tested methods to attract top talent and this includes extensive networking through the professional advisory, private equity and banking fraternity whereby we are able track and validate the previous successes and technical aptitude of management teams/individuals. “Candidate due diligence” is often just as important as formal due diligence as the impact of a flawed management team can be long lasting and ultimately make a business difficult to sell.

Non-executive directors may add value to the process of selling a business as they are widely accepted by potential acquirers/external bodies as custodians of corporate governance. Where some businesses fail in this respect is they forget that a non-executive director (NXD or NED) is a member of the board of directors of a company but not a part of the “executive management team”.

S/he is NOT an employee of the company or affiliated with it in any other way; they are there to add value by commenting on strategy, risk, performance and people. They should provide independent views on resources, appointments and standards of conduct. Again, they are not involved in the day to day running of business but monitor the executive activity and contribute to the development of strategy.

This business has exceptional growth plans and has created a technology which receiving huge interest. The founder is now looking to appoint a Managing Director to lead the business and choose one of multiple vertical markets to pursue.

The incoming MD will be an exceptionally bright and talented business leader with a skill set suitable for growing and grooming a pre-revenue IT/technology business.

The MD will be tasked with building relationships with the various interested businesses who are looking to use the software product – of which there have been over 50 (including some of the world’s largest IT/telco businesses).

You will have a track record of adding significant shareholder value to SME technology or technically sophisticated businesses

Very likely you will have had experience of dealing with Venture Capital/Private Equity Funds and have a strong contact base in professional services

Exceptional leadership skills and an ability to attract and retain staff/teams in technical disciplines

It is very likely that this business will grow at double digit percentages month on month and thus experience in a fast moving, change environment where international travel (mainly USA) will be expected.

Applications will be treated in strictest confidence.

£SIX FIGURES + EQUITY/OPTIONS

Job Reference: IW/MDSF8292
Contact: Ian Wright
Phone: 0161 932 1434
Address: 3 Hardman St, , Spinningfields, , Manchester M3 3HF

Equinox Ventures has been launched to work closer with the clients of Equinox Financial Search and Selection who require more than a “standard” appointment into their business.  Equinox Ventures aims to identify and deliver candidates who are not only highly commercial and bring a track record of success but are actively looking for a short to medium term MBO opportunity. 

“Succession planning is a tool often spoken about but rarely put into practice by the typical owner manager; all too often businesses are closed or sold in a trade sale for significantly less than their material worth due to poor planning”.(Ian Wright, Managing Director speaking at E&Y Event, 2010).

Equinox Ventures works contingently with entrepreneurs and business owners to identify management teams/leaders to succeed them and in many instances to continue the growth of what have been significantly successful businesses”