CEO - PORTFOLIO SEARCH - BUILDING PRODUCTS - USA

September 16, 2024

The Appointed Executive

The new CEO will be joining the team based out of the US

CEO

Lance Keiser is an accomplished CEO and President known for rapidly driving revenue growth, profitability, and operational excellence within private equity-backed companies ranging from $100M to $900M. With extensive experience in home improvement and building materials industries, Lance has repeatedly transformed underperforming organizations, achieving significant EBITDA improvements—turning around businesses from negative margins to profitability exceeding 19%. Notably, he tripled company revenue, substantially increased customer retention rates, successfully integrated multiple acquisitions, and expanded market footprints both domestically and internationally. Lance excels in leading large-scale teams, establishing high-performance cultures, and consistently exceeding aggressive sales targets.

$100MN

Revenue growth at the past role

3

Add-on acquisitions completed in previous roles

REASON FOR THE SEARCH

The current CEO will transition to the role of COO, with full awareness of the change. While he has demonstrated strong operational leadership, he has been unable to successfully sell the business. Market feedback indicated that the business lacked the consistency required for a sale. As a result, the company is now restructuring its approach by appointing a new CEO and shifting its strategy to split and sell the businesses separately.

THE PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM

Baymark Partners

THE PORTFOLIO COMPANY 

This company specializes in designing, fabricating, and installing custom glass products for residential and commercial spaces. They have over 30 years of experience and are known for their precision, creativity, and quality. Their projects include everything from glass shower enclosures to large commercial installations, serving sectors like hospitality, office spaces, and luxury homes. The company manages everything in-house, ensuring high-quality control across all stages, from estimation to installation​.

WHAT WERE THE PARTICULAR REQUIREMENTS OF THE SEARCH? 

  • Proven track record of leading successful exits within the sector
  • Deep understanding of industry trends and transition complexities
  • Strong collaboration with financial intermediaries and expertise in managing complex transactions
  • Ability to engage with staff at all levels, fostering a cohesive work environment
  • History of driving organic growth through internal strategic initiatives
  • Experience in scaling businesses and executing growth-focused operational plans

WHAT CHALLENGES WAS THE CLIENT FACING? 

The business required a CEO with a proven background in developing effective exit strategies within the Building Products sector, while also being able to integrate seamlessly into the blue-collar culture of the company. The primary challenge driving the need for this role was the necessity to divest, restructure, strategically position, and ultimately exit the business successfully. The client struggled to find strong CEO’s, with relevant product experience & the functional experience of an exit. When we were able to show them 6 CEO’s meeting the criteria, they used our service.

WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT MADE THE SEARCH CHALLENGING? 

It was crucial to ensure that the CEO’s exit experience was directly relevant. Many CEOs may have been involved in an exit but not necessarily led one, often holding a different position during the process. Identifying the subtle differences in their capabilities was essential to accurately align their experience with the client’s specific needs.

HOW DID YOU OVERCOME THESE CHALLENGES? 

Through our interview process, we focused on asking the right and more challenging questions to thoroughly assess a candidate’s exit capabilities. This approach ensured that we gained a deep understanding of their experience and prevented the risk of placing someone in a role where they could become overwhelmed. It also helped safeguard the client from hiring a candidate who might have been better suited to a different type of business or situation.

HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO GET THE FINAL SHORTLIST OVER?

It took 7 days to get a final shortlist over to the client. 

THOUGHTS ON THE CANDIDATE 

"Lance was a great choice for the CEO position for the portfolio company. Throughout the process, he meshed well with the current management team as well as the Private Equity firm. Lance has a fantastic track record in this space, having led multiple exits previously in similar businesses. Throughout the process, Lance was great to work with, consistent in terms of expectations, his level of communication & commitment to the process. I wish Lance the best of luck in this position."

Luke Standing, Senior Associate

THE CLIENTS THOUGHTS 

"Luke Standing was great to work with in securing the CEO for one of our glass companies. He produced an excellent candidate and we are pleased with the result."

David Hook, Managing Director

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 clients.

If you are looking for new talent, please get in contact with Jack today, at Jack.Burns@raw-selection.com

 

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.

Get in Touch