REASON FOR SEARCH
The family-founded business, Thaler Machine, needed to hire a seasoned CFO to support its growth and bring the expertise of a non-family executive into the company’s leadership.
THE PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM
Cognitive Capital Partners, LLC is a Chicago-based private equity firm focused on investing in leading companies across technical and business services, manufacturing and industrial products and services, and healthcare and wellness sectors.
THE PORTFOLIO COMPANY
Thaler Machine specializes in various machining services, including prototype development, tool work, inspection support, and design support for manufacturability. The company offers diverse machining capabilities such as CNC Jig Grinding, EDM Wire & Ram, 5-axis CNC machining, and much more, with state-of-the-art technology and a wide range of machines.
THE SEARCH REQUIREMENTS
The ideal candidate needed to meet the following criteria:
- Experience in Private Equity-backed businesses
- Prior role as Controller or Chief of Finance at a large PE group
- Experience as CFO
- Aerospace and Defense (A&D) experience (preferred)
- Strong manufacturing background (required)
WHY RAW SELECTION
One of the main challenges of this search was the small talent pool available due to the high demand in the sector at the time. However, Raw Selection leveraged its extensive network, especially in the Aerospace and Defense space, to complete this difficult search. Utilizing their proven 15-step recruitment process, Raw Selection found the perfect candidate for the role.
THE PROCESS
Raw Selection's Principal, Jack Burns, worked closely with Rob Yokubison, the Hiring Manager at Cognitive Capital, to thoroughly understand the company’s culture, needs, and the specific profile required for success in the CFO role. The team identified over 200 potential candidates, narrowing the list down to 11 highly qualified candidates who were fully interviewed for culture fit. After over 60 screening calls, Raw Selection successfully placed Mark Godfrey in the role, a candidate with the ideal skills and experience to lead the business forward.
THE RESULTS
Raw Selection successfully filled the CFO position with Mark Godfrey, who had the right mix of manufacturing experience, PE-backed business expertise, and a track record of impressive growth in previous roles. The new CFO is now set to drive the business forward and take it to new heights.
THOUGHTS ON THE CANDIDATE
Mark Godfrey stood out from the start of the search. His experience in manufacturing, particularly in fabrication and machining, was a perfect fit. He had previously grown a Private Equity-backed business by 60% in revenue and successfully sold it to a strategic buyer. Additionally, his work as the finance lead for Ingersoll Rand’s $400M+ revenue division, where he significantly increased EBITDA, demonstrated his ability to drive financial success.
Alex Rawlings, Managing Partner at Raw Selection
THOUGHTS ON THE SEARCH
The search was an exciting challenge due to the high demand in the industry at the time. Despite the smaller talent pool, Raw Selection was able to identify and place the right candidate who could meet the needs of both the company and the private equity firm.
Watch more about the search
GET IN TOUCH
Raw Selection’s meticulous approach to talent research ensures that we find the right talent for every role. With a 100% success rate for all our retained and engaged C-suite clients and 96% of placed candidates remaining in their roles after 12 months, we’re committed to delivering the best results.
If you are looking for exceptional talent, get in touch with Jack Burns today at jack.burns@raw-selection.com.
