CEO - PORTFOLIO SEARCH - MANUFACTURING - USA
September 25, 2023
The Appointed Executive
Chief Executive Officer
Francis Dirksmeier has managed companies from $300M to $2Bn in revenue, has completed exits selling to GE and more recently selling Performance Health a Private Equity-backed manufacturer of Healthcare products completing the sale to a strategic.
$100M
Growth of revenue in the last role
$31M
Growth of EBITDA in the last role
REASON FOR THE SEARCH
The prior Chief Executive Officer had retired, and they currently had an interim in situ, one of the managing directors of Blackford Capital.
THE PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM
Blackford Capital
THE PORTFOLIO COMPANY
Mopec is a leading American manufacturer of high-quality medical and laboratory equipment.
They specialize in anatomic and forensic pathology, providing products and solutions for grossing, autopsy, and necropsy procedures.
THE SEARCH REQUIREMENTS:
- Working in a Private Equity backed portfolio company
- Metal manufacturing
- Previously sold into the Healthcare market
- Completed a successful exit
- Relocate or located in Michigan
CHALLENGES
This CEO position had been ongoing for three years and had previously been attempted to be filled by two executive search firms. Due to the prior work conducted, this search presented challenges, including tying up loose ends, repositioning the role for individuals who may have been contacted previously, and understanding how to approach it differently and successfully. The primary challenge for this search was to meet all the search requirements.
THE PROCESS
This search was one of the most difficult searches Raw Selection had ever completed.
Raw Selection commences every search by discussing and understanding the full search requirements and brief. Raw Selection’s Senior Associate, Sean Butt, led the search and worked with Managing Partner, Alex Rawlings, who with the cooperation of Jeff Johnson, hiring manager at Blackford, built out a full picture of the company, the employees, the culture, and exactly the type of profile that was needed to succeed in this position.
Raw Selection followed our extensive 15-step search process. We were able to create an exceptional talent pool of 1800 people and identified 200 potential profiles which were fully evaluated and then cut down to a shortlist of 18, all of whom had been fully interviewed and measured for culture fit.
Raw Selection identified an exceptional individual, Francis Dirksmeier, who was subsequently hired for the role.
THOUGHTS ON THE CANDIDATE
Francis Dirksmeier possesses a strong profile with a remarkable work background in manufacturing, boasting extensive knowledge in the field. Their notable experience includes successfully selling in the competitive healthcare market, showcasing their adaptability and industry acumen. Furthermore, their willingness to relocate to Michigan demonstrates their commitment to the role and their eagerness to contribute. Notably, they have completed a successful exit in their previous role, underlining their ability to drive results. Equally important, the candidate is a great culture fit, ensuring a seamless integration within the organization’s values and environment.
GET IN TOUCH
If you are looking for new talent, please get in contact with Alex today, at alex.rawlings@raw-selection.com
Outcome
Blackford Capital Exits Mopec Group to Waud Capital Partners
Blackford Capital has successfully exited Mopec Group, a Michigan-based medical equipment manufacturer, through a sale to Waud Capital Partners (WCP), a Chicago-based private equity firm specializing in healthcare and technology investments.
Francis Dirksmeier completes his THIRD exit
Under CEO Francis Dirksmeier, Mopec underwent significant transformation and growth during Blackford’s 11-year ownership, with strategic investments in infrastructure, technology, and operational efficiency. Dirksmeier played a pivotal role in leading the company through this evolution, ultimately steering the exit process to Waud 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.
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