Chair at The Dermatology Partnership

Our client:

A PE-backed provider of clinically-led dermatology services to consumers. The business had been created in a roll-up by August Equity as a platform for a combination of greenfield and M&A growth, and needed a PE experienced Chair to support the ambitious growth plans.

The challenge:

Conducting a rigorous search across all successful PE exits in the multisite healthcare and consumer arenas, regardless of scale, filtering candidates for a combination of high-growth rollout experience, entrepreneurial instincts, and low ego. Pre-referenced the longlist extensively with sponsors to gauge genuine value creation and ensure the right balance of strategic with hands-on.

How our approach made a difference:

Placed Keith Pacey, former Chair of Albemarle and Bond, Mountain Warehouse, and Rutland Cycling, who had previously successfully built up and sold Maplin Electronics. The incumbent CEO was subsequently removed and replaced, and the business has been re-steered,  flourishing despite the Covid-19 pandemic, and is now set for growth.