If you’re a CEO in a Private Equity–backed business considering your next move, understand this: PE firms don’t hire CEOs for their title — they hire them for their ability to deliver equity value.

Most CEO resumes look the same — vague blurbs about “leading strategy” or “driving growth.” That won’t cut it. A sponsor wants proof you can professionalise operations, deliver growth, and execute a successful exit.

What PE Firms Expect to See

• Revenue Growth – Show before and after numbers. Break it out between organic and M&A.

• EBITDA Expansion – Sponsors care about margins. Demonstrate cost control, operational efficiency, and scalability.

• M&A Leadership – Acquisitions are central to the PE playbook. Detail how many, your role in diligence/integration, and the outcomes.

• Operational Transformation – Founder-led to institutional grade, ERP implementations, shared services, salesforce effectiveness — highlight your fingerprints.

• Exit Experience – Have you run a process? Managed diligence, CIM prep, or sponsor negotiations? Show it.

The Difference Between Winning and Losing Candidates

Weak CEO resumes list responsibilities.
Winning CEO resumes list results. Numbers. Multiples. Exits.

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Examples of How to Write It

Example 1: Residential Services Franchise

Chief Executive Officer | PORTFOLIO COMPANY | PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM | 2020 – 2025
Hired to professionalise operations and prepare the $50M franchise platform for exit. Led turnaround and expansion across the U.S.

• Revenue Growth: $50M → $107M | EBITDA: 20% → 25%

• M&A: Acquired X COMPANY ($3M → $12M revenue in 3 years)

• Organic Expansion: Added 402 franchise territories (65% growth)

• Operational Improvements: Implemented ServiceTitan and ServiceMinder CRMs, automated marketing, redesigned websites

• Customer Retention: Launched subscription model, increasing recurring revenue

• Shared Services: Centralised finance, IT, HR, purchasing; opened new HQ with training centre

• Leadership: Built senior team including divisional presidents and VPs

• Exit: Negotiated sale at a double-digit EBITDA multiple; platform positioned at ~2x revenue growth and +500bps margin expansion

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Example 2: Global Tools & Equipment Distributor

Chief Executive Officer | PORTFOLIO COMPANY | PRIVATE EQUITY FIRM | 2006 – 2022
Led two sponsor-backed cycles, professionalising the business and driving global expansion through M&A and organic growth.

• Revenue Growth: $140M → $500M (50% organic, 50% M&A)

• EBITDA Growth: $8M → $36M through logistics automation, sourcing, and SG&A leverage

• M&A: 13 acquisitions integrated into a unified platform; created structured playbook for diligence and integration

• Operational Excellence: Implemented ERP, standardised KPIs, and automated demand planning

• Leadership: Rebuilt executive team across supply chain, finance, and sales

• Exits:

  • Founder sale to PE firm at 8.7x EBITDA

  • PE-to-PE exit at 13x EBITDA; personally led CIM prep, diligence, and buyer engagement

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Final Word

Your resume isn’t a job description, it’s a value-creation scoreboard.
If you can prove revenue growth, margin expansion, M&A leadership, and exit execution, you’ll stand out from the crowd. If you can’t, you’ll blend in with the noise.

Are you considering your next CEO opportunity in Private Equity or looking to hire a proven leader for your portfolio?

We treat every search with full confidentiality.

Reach out in confidence to Alex Rawlings: alex.rawlings@raw-selection.com