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Leathwaite sought to hire a Partner to lead CFO searches into Private Equity-backed portfolio companies. The bar was exceptionally high. The successful individual needed to be generating at least $1.5 million in annual revenue while actively working with businesses in the $300 million to $1 billion range.
Commercial capability alone was not enough. Cultural fit carried equal weight. The ideal candidate needed to demonstrate a strong record of collaboration, including selling on behalf of other Partners and contributing to broader team success. These qualities are uncommon in high-performing billers, where individual performance often outweighs collective contribution.
Credibility and seniority were essential, but validating those qualities within such a narrow market proved difficult. The candidate pool was highly competitive and limited in size.
Leathwaite also needed a search partner capable of acting strategically rather than transactionally. Building trust with senior candidates while maintaining alignment with the wider Partner group was critical throughout the process.
Tempting Talent executed a direct headhunting strategy, mapping the market and leveraging its immediate network to identify relevant senior talent. A targeted outreach campaign engaged 106 prospective candidates, with 65 entering meaningful conversations.
The process was designed to assess both commercial capability and cultural alignment. Five candidates progressed to final stages involving multiple rounds of interviews and informal discussions focused on leadership style and long-term fit.
A key differentiator was the active involvement of Tempting Talent’s Head of US, who operated as a bridge between the client and the candidate throughout the process. Their close engagement helped build trust on both sides, strengthened the candidate’s relationship with the wider Partner group, and ensured alignment through completion.
Midway through the engagement, Leathwaite expanded the partnership significantly, commissioning three additional searches after recognizing the professionalism and strategic support provided throughout the process.
Alongside the Partner placement, Tempting Talent also secured a Director-level hire approximately 90 days into the engagement, an opportunistic addition welcomed by the client at the time.
The successful Partner joined Leathwaite with three active mandates representing approximately $600,000 in live revenue, immediately validating the commercial value of the hire. They have since generated over $3,000,000 revenue for Leathwaite and counting.
The process also resulted in the placement of a Director during the engagement, further strengthening the client’s leadership capability.
Following the success of the assignment, Leathwaite continued the relationship through an ongoing annual engagement model, with active searches continuing across the Partner team. The engagement evolved from a single strategic search into a long-term talent partnership supporting the firm’s broader growth objectives.
This search was conducted by Rob White.
Contact Rob to discuss your hiring initiatives.
Rob White leads Tempting Talent as Managing Partner, leveraging a distinguished track record in executive search and talent consulting to help private equity, venture capital, and recruitment businesses attract the leaders who drive growth and value creation.