CEO - PORTFOLIO SEARCH - CONSUMER - USA
October 30, 2024
The Appointed Executive
Chief Executive Officer
John Snowden has a track record of partnering with five private equity firms across his career. Having completed 2 Private Equity-backed exits with 3x revenue and 5x EBITDA growth. He has experience with omnichannel companies selling D2C and D2B globally. Alex Rawlings undertook reference checks as part of our service, and he was described as incredibly intelligent and hardworking. Alex shared that the references received from private equity partners, previous CEOs, and peers were the most positive feedback he had received about any executive.
2x
2 Private Equity-Backed Exits
4.6x
In a prior role, John achieved 4.6X EBITDA growth
REASON FOR THE SEARCH
Blackford Capital had completed a roll-up of outdoor living companies and required a Chief Executive Officer to lead the multi-brand and omni-channel strategy.
THE PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM
Blackford Capital
THE PORTFOLIO COMPANY
The now-named Outova is a roll-up of well-known brands such as Starfire Direct, Artificial Turf Supply, Patio Productions, Harmonia Living, and the recently acquired Empire Distributing. These businesses cater to a wide range of customers through digital and traditional retail channels, enhancing Blackford’s presence in the expanding home and outdoor lifestyle market.
THE SEARCH REQUIREMENTS
- Proven executive leader
- Completed a roll-up strategy with founder-owned acquisitions
- $100M and above revenue experience
- E-commerce and omnichannel
- Extensive Amazon selling route exposure
- Supply chain management sourcing from Asia
- Hands-on CEO
- Private equity-backed
- Exit experience
CHALLENGES
The search for a CEO of a new roll-up always brings its challenges, and as add-ons get concluded during the process, the need to pivot the experience requirement is important. Attempting to get the search aligned to close alongside the acquisitions was important to avoid a gap period without the business having executive leadership.
THOUGHTS ON THE CANDIDATE
"John is an exceptional and seasoned Private Equity operator. Career Highlights include completing two successful exits in excess of both a ~9X & ~10X. Highest P&L is in excess of $500Mn.
John has a plethora of experience in aggressive, successful M&A growth & integration and building and maintaining supply chains with extensive exposure to sourcing in the Far East. John’s references are amongst the very best I have ever received. All from those that reported to him, he reported to and prior Private Equity executives, of them communicating that he is super intelligent, incredibly hardworking and an exceptional executive."
Sean Butt, Senior Associate
THOUGHTS FROM BLACKFORD CAPITAL
Over the years, I have worked with many recruiting and staffing agencies, and there are a few key qualities I consistently look for in professional partners. As you read my criteria, I want you to know that Alex Rawlings and the team at Raw Selection have exemplified all these qualities at an exceptional level.
-
True Partnership: I value recruiting partners who are genuinely invested in finding the best person to serve my organization—not just someone to fill a role. This means taking the time to deeply understand my company, its objectives, strategies, and, most importantly, its culture. Alex and his team have done this remarkably well.
-
Determination, Grit, and Follow-Through: I look for partners who are relentless in their mission to achieve results. It's not just about the hours they put in; it’s about their unwavering focus on accomplishing the task. Raw Selection embodies this mindset.
-
Professional Competence: While essential, I rank this last among my criteria because I take it as a given. That said, Alex and his team excel in their market knowledge, their ability to identify top talent, and their rigorous screening process. They consistently present only the most qualified candidates, saving me an incredible amount of time and ensuring we meet our hiring goals.
In summary, Alex Rawlings and Raw Selection are outstanding recruiting partners. I highly recommend them to anyone seeking to hire senior executives in the private equity space.
Paul Doyle, Managing Partner, Blackford Capital
Get in Touch
Raw Selection favors a meticulous approach to talent research. Our process for selecting the right talent means we can boast a 100% success rate for all our retained and engaged C-Suite clients, with 96% of placed candidates still in their roles after 12 months.
If you are looking for new talent, contact us now.
February 3, 2025
Case Study
PRINCIPAL – PRIVATE EQUITY SEARCH – MASSACHUSETTS, USA
November 19, 2024
Case Study
HEAD OF SALES - PORTFOLIO SEARCH - MANUFACTURING - USA
October 30, 2024
Case Study
CEO - PORTFOLIO SEARCH - CONSUMER - USA
October 2, 2024
Case Study