OPERATIONS DIRECTOR - PORTFOLIO SEARCH - AEROSPACE & DEFENSE/MANUFACTURING - USA

September 21, 2021

The Appointed Executive

Operations Director

Joe Slim is a seasoned operations and manufacturing executive with a proven track record of optimizing efficiency, reducing costs, and driving substantial revenue growth. As Plant Manager/GM at Power Plant Services, he tripled revenue over five years, improved on-time delivery from 75% to 96%, and reduced supply costs by 15% through strategic vendor negotiations. Previously, as Operations Director at GCM Global, he led CNC machining and assembly operations, enhancing productivity and streamlining workflows. With deep expertise in Six Sigma, Lean manufacturing, and strategic planning, Joe specializes in scaling operations, optimizing supply chains, and delivering measurable profitability improvements across aerospace, medical, and power generation industries.

2x+

Revenue increase at prior role

6x

EBITDA increase at prior role

REASON FOR THE SEARCH

The company is looking to refresh, upskill, and expand its team to support the growth of the business.

THE PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM

Calvert Street Capital Partners

THE PORTFOLIO COMPANY

Since its founding in 1976, Abrasive Form has become a global leader in creep feed and 5-axis CBN grinding, serving clients in the Industrial Gas Turbine (IGT), Aerospace, and General Industrial sectors. With a reputation for unparalleled expertise and service, they have established long-term relationships with major IGT and Aerospace customers.

THE SEARCH REQUIREMENTS

  • Director of Operations experience
  • Understanding of bottlenecks
  • 3&5 axis Machining background
  • Straight Manufacturing experience
  • Aerospace manufacturing experience
  • Maintenance knowledge
  • Strong understanding of the flow of a factory
  • Bachelor's of Science degree in an applicable field
  • Exceptional leadership skills with proven history developing a high-performing team
  • Demonstrated track record of continuous improvement resulting in increased throughput and profitability
  • Able to motivate employees effectively
  • Strong communication skills

OUR THOUGHTS ON JOE THE CANDIDATE

The portfolio company Abrasive Form, backed by Private Equity Firm Calvert Street Capital, needed an urgent confidential replacement of an Operations Director who was not hitting the standard required.

Joe fitted the criteria perfectly and was already in our network and was very local to the plant, so no need for relocation. Joe has a strong background in the machining sector, having worked on aerospace and defense-focused companies for many years. He had an impressive track record of driving revenue growth in his previous role, more than doubling the revenue.

His strong operational mindset was of key benefit to Abrasive Form and Calvert Street Capital as Calvert Street tends to invest in distressed/turnaround companies.

Alex Rawlings, Managing Partner at Raw Selection

Overall, this was a very successful search for Raw Selection, and Calvert Street Capital Partners now has a strong Director of Operations for their business, to help the CEO run their main facility.

“Talent within the machined components sector is moving fast right now, so to present and secure a profile within a 30-minute commute to Abrasive Form is a great situation for both parties.”
“I wish Joe all the best with his new role and look forward to hearing about the impact he makes in a PE-backed environment.”

Jack Burns, Principal at Raw Selection

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

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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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