Operating Executives
Your company has developed proprietary technology or is attempting to take a concept to market. Your leadership team has held meetings and discussion with thousands of potential opportunities, partners and investors, earnestly pursuing growth. But despite this tremendous effort to secure contracts and increase revenue,you have no significant commercial activity to show for it—and no clear strategy for what comes next.
Does this scenario sound familiar? If so, you’re like many businesses that fail to consider how the other party views their capabilities.
Global expansion poses unique dynamics for any business, but it is especially challenging for small enterprises without the commercial abilities needed to close contracts. As organisations embark upon this uncharted territory, they face a “chicken and the egg” scenario. Securing significant commercial activity in the current global marketplace requires a high degree of pragmatic support, a sophisticated understanding of international dynamics, a fully realised leadership team and a sound corporate structure. However, committing to a long-term position requires a level of capital expenditure out of reach for businesses that have not yet secured meaningful commercial contracts or investment. Lacking the resources to navigate this complex crossroads, many settle for the private equity model, which results in a tremendous loss of both shares and value on the front door of growing their business.
Who We Advise
Our operating executives have a proven track record in high-growth and turnaround scenarios, creating shareholder value and fresh capital derived from a number of options including M&A, licensing and royalties, JVs, or by Pre-IPO and IPO share offering options. Our clients are Board of Directors, executives, principals and management teams who trust us to add value to existing teams and/or fill key roles lacking within their organization.
As operating executives, we provide skills, services and solutions across a wide range of verticals to address a multitude of challenges and opportunities for companies in the crucial growth and expansion curve. We drive change and motivate management teams. We formulate executable business plans and strategies. We act as coaches, mentors or even contending partners to drive quantifiable progress. But above all, we deliver the skills and knowledge lacking in an existing team so that companies can navigate the terrain of international expansion.
We frequently step into place at short notice, providing clients with a safe pair of hands and a trusted resource during critical junctures such as:
- Strategic advisory execution
- Crisis management
- Sickness and absence
- Skill gaps in an existing team
- Sudden departure of a senior team member
- Managing a commercial event, such as acquisition, transaction, transition or the exit of a director or executive
- Post-acquisition integration
Our Firm’s Expertise
Our operating executives know what it takes to build a team capable of delivering results. We have a proven background in starting, building, buying and exiting companies, and we take immense pride in infusing this experience into our clients’ businesses.
Our executives are the gateway to DePelle’s vast sphere of expertise and resources. Credible, respected, well-connected and high-profile in their sectors, they bring strong backgrounds in directorships and executive-level positions, both in SME and enterprise organisations. Whether working with or joining a board, our operating executives deliver sophisticated experience, governance, advice and added value.
Highly qualified for the roles we fill for our clients, our operating executives make a noticeable, measurable impact from Day One of an engagement. As independent operators, we contribute honestly without constituting a threat to existing management teams. We drive progress even when the path forward, and decisions to be made, are difficult—showcasing the skills, tenacity and long-term partnership mentality lacking from typical consultants or contracted firms. Our interim assignments rise to the challenge of managing a business or key project, consistently delivering the highest levels of responsibility, accountability and pragmatism. Our reward is in the results: knowing that we have left a business in a better position than when we were first engaged, with a sustainable framework that enables our clients to maintain, and expand upon, their growth.
No matter the stage in global expansion or gaps in existing capabilities, our operating executives act as an extension of our clients’ team: taking ownership of problems and pleasure in solutions.
Non–Executive Chair and Non-Executive Director
We connect businesses with either individuals or complete teams based on their international growth mandates and current organizational structure. When supported by our experienced talent bank, our Non-Executive Chairs and Non-Executive Directors add quantifiable value to the organisations they work with.
Key to the effectiveness of a board’s operations, the Non-Executive Chair leads the board, sets its agenda and ensures that those running the company form an effective working group. In this role, our operating executives also spearhead effective, timely communication with both shareholders and members of the board.
The Non-Executive Director plays a key role in policymaking and planning. Rather than operating from ego, an effective Non-Executive Director fosters a cross-fertilisation of ideas and insights into the best practices held by other industries. With robust knowledge, keen emotional intelligence and an independent mindset, our executives evaluate board members’ characteristics and agendas quickly without appearing domineering. Above all, they ask critical questions to hold the board accountable.
Our operating executives deliver:
- An independent challenge to the Executive Team, including a fresh, multi-prong perspective on their deliberations
- An overall strategic direction for the organisation amidst a period of change
- The assurance that the organisation’s statutory and governance duties are discharged effectively, with the interests of diverse stakeholders fully considered
- Constructive challenges to the policies, proposals and plans developed by the organization
- The assurance that decisions made by the board follow proper procedures and are robust, defensible and supported by adequate high-quality information
- Support for the organisation’s executives, including experienced, well-informed advice to the Chief Executive and assistance in developing the organisation to meet its future challenges and responsibilities
- Keen monitoring of conduct among the organisation’s executives
- Thorough evaluation of management’s performance in meetings and the transparent, ongoing monitoring of performance reporting
- The assurance of accurate financial information
- The assurance that financial controls, operational controls and systems of risk management are robust and defensible
- Critical vertical or general experience input to the board and management team
- A culture of continual improvement and performance management
- A strong ethos integrated throughout the organization, and a culture of safety and wellbeing
- Access to highly vetted contacts and end-user opportunities to help the company achieve its objectives
Interim Senior Executive or Management Roles
As operating executives, we bring proven leadership to the boardroom, the corporate headquarters, or newly created positions within an organisation. With firsthand experience across nearly all business sectors in enterprise and SME businesses, our operating executives are skilled, independent guides at every stage of your growth strategy and at all levels of your organisation. We can fulfill singular roles or, in cases such as an Interim Senior Executive, will deliver a skilled executive along with the support team required to maximize his or her efforts.
Our Process
Clients engage us to sustain accelerated global growth at various points in the cycle of their business—from startup growth to executing a business plan—or to build toward an event such as an acquisition or exit. No matter the business’ growth stage, we start by identifying Key Performance Indicators that outline a goal line for our work together. Once we’ve steered the ship to the port, we continue nurturing our long-term relationship by providing ongoing support in a board advisory capacity.
Whether our engagement is short- or long-term, our strategy is the same: to increase business value through a pragmatic approach and executable expertise. We redefine the role of “operating partner” by standing eye to eye and knee to knee with our clients—not just offering advice, but working diligently to implement it and deliver results.