Why it’s getting harder to hire a great CFO
The latest version of the UK corporate governance code, commonly referred to us as UK SOx, leaves them personally liable, at least in part, for the accuracy of financial statements, and the effectiveness of internal controls and risk management frameworks. I’m all for preventing fraud and accounting scandals, but no one should be surprised that […]
When should founders step back
If leaders are expected to have all the answers, the same goes doubly for founders. You are often synonymous with the business, its guiding light. It makes it tremendously difficult to admit that you’re out of your depth, even drowning in your work. This is ironic, because founders arguably face this challenge more than anyone […]
Why you can’t plan for succession
But the traditional approach to succession planning is no longer fit for purpose. In an era of rapid and unpredictable change, you cannot just select an heir apparent, review every couple of years and wait. Adaptability and agility are paramount. The needs of your business are ever evolving, which means the brief for succession will […]
Do co-CEOs really work?
In a corporate setting it’s rare for there not to be a single chief executive running the show, but not unheard of. Increasingly, we’re seeing prominent examples of co-CEOs, including Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters at Netflix, co-MDs Jane Eskriett and Richard Grainger at River Island, and M&S CEO Stuart Machin and co-CEO Katie Bickerstaffe. […]
Why we’re seeing more bounceback CEOs
If you went off the grid in 2010 and re-emerged to survey the cast of characters in today’s business pages, you might be forgiven for thinking that things hadn’t changed. Bob Iger is still the CEO of Disney. Julian Dunkerton runs Superdry, and Richard Bradbury is in charge of River Island. There’s Nittin Passi at […]
Can you recognise good leadership when you see it?
Imagine a leader, and describe what appears in your mind’s eye. Henry V? Richard Branson? Sharon White? Ozwald Boateng? Lord Karan Bilimoria? History, literature and personal experience help us to form an idea of what leaders – and from that, leadership – look like. If you’re a founder hiring a professional CEO, or looking for […]
IPOs for founders: The good, the bad and the ugly
In an ideal world, you wouldn’t need to take anyone else’s money to grow your business. You’d just take your ample profits and reinvest them back into the top line, bootstrapping your way into the Fortune Global 500, with full control. On Earth, getting into the upper echelons of corporate success generally involves taking some […]
Growing companies need execution as well as ambition
When Ray Kroc struck a deal with the McDonald brothers to scale their fast food burger concept, he didn’t limit his ambition to a few restaurants in the American Midwest. He thought big, and that’s what he got. We work with many founders in high growth companies, and also with non-founder-led companies that consistently outgrow […]
Fractional leaders: Are they worth it?
High growth companies often choose to hire fractional (part-time) senior executives to fill roles that they either don’t want to or can’t pay for full-time. These can be relatively specific, such as supply chain director or chief data officer, or broader strategic positions such as a CMO or CFO. The fractional executives they hire could […]
Why recruiting superstar NEDs requires creative thinking
A great non-executive director can have a real impact on a growing business. Their specialist expertise, connections and outside perspective can help it avoid costly pitfalls, develop capabilities and unlock new opportunities. The problem is that great NEDs – aside from the traditional (much maligned) ‘seasoned white male’ variety – don’t exactly grow on trees. […]
