International
Operating Partners Forum: Europe London 2022
11 - 12 May 2022,
Hilton Tower Bridge, London
The largest European event for private equity value creation
Private Equity International’s Operating Partners Forum Europe is the largest European event dedicated to operating partners. The 12th annual event focused on best practices in private equity portfolio operations and value creation across all functional business areas.
The operating partner community discussed and debated the best reset strategies to deliver maximum portfolio growth in-person, in London, this May.
Attendees built lasting relationships and compared best practices with their peers through the new style of agenda, which helped you foster business relationships and influence the future of value creation models. There were extended opportunities to network with the key industry players, as well as more operating partners-only sessions than ever before.
What did attendees experience at the Operating Partners Forum?
Event content about adding value
The content focused on working with and scaling portfolio companies. Featuring sessions on the evolution of value creation, developing a world class value creation team, making boards effective, the future of work and practical advice on key areas of value creation.
Build a valuable network
Attendees connected with industry participants in all aspects of value creation and benefited from a truly international event. Attendees benefitted from in-person networking at interactive workshops, networking breaks, evening drinks reception, roundtable discussions and invite-only breakfasts.
Hearing from Operating Partners
Attendees heard from 100+ operating partners on a range of topics. Past speakers included representatives from BC Partners, Carlyle Group, CDPQ, CVC Capital Partners, Hg, PAI Partners, InvestCorp, KKR Capstone, Partners Group and many more.
Introducing our keynote
Keynote speaker Birger Steen, Partner at Summa Equity, explained how they optimised their tech to improve valuations.
Key themes at the forum
- Developing a world class value creation team – comparing different operating models and considering what works
- Boardroom case study – interactive session considering a PR crisis and how a board should react
- Best practices in advisor management – finding the right advisor and which relationships and governance structures work best
- The future of work and what it means for private equity backed businesses – managing hybrid teams and onboarding new staff
- Think Tank for Operating Partners – Closed-door session was an opportunity to share first-hand accounts on how to best position yourself in your career as an operating partner
- Interactive working groups – Small group discussions with operating partners discussing a mix of topics
Connecting with the industry
Leaders guiding the content
Testimonials from attendees
Attendee of the forum
As my first Operating Partners Forum event, I found it incredibly valuable to spend time with operating partners in other funds and discuss the opportunities an…
Attendee of the forum
Great operating partner attendees, content, and networking. This is a crucial event for monitoring the pulse of European private equity.
Attendee of the forum
The exchange of ideas between operating partners and their advisors, CEOs, and board members, brought useful insights and re-energised me.
Attendee of the forum
As my first Operating Partners Forum event, I found it incredibly valuable to spend time with operating partners in other funds and discuss the opportunities and challenges that our portfolio companies are facing. It was also helpful to be introduced to a wide range of advisors who have the experience to support management team. I will be attending next year!
Our leading advisory board in 2022
Maria Carradice
Managing Director
Mayfair Equity Partners
Ralph Friedwagner
Managing Director & Operating Partner
CDPQ
Will Harman
Principal, Margin Practice Lead
Apax Partners
Celine Infeld
Operating Partner
Investcorp
Esther Nayyar
Managing Director, Due Diligence & Value Creation
ICG
Tony O’Carroll
Managing Director and Head of Investment-Ops team
SVPGlobal
Elizabeth Wallace
Head of Portfolio Talent
Hg
Lisa Weaver-Lambert
Data and Digital Operating Partner
Independent
View the agenda
The Operating Partners Forum: Europe took place on 11-12 May.
For more information on the agenda, please contact Charles Gould.
charles.g@peimedia.com | +44 (0)203 879 3893
Agenda
Operating Partners Europe - Wednesday 11th
Invitation only - Welcome Reception - sponsored by JMAN Group
Registration and Networking Breakfast sponsored by FTI Consulting
Introduction from PEI
Charles Gould, Head of Event Production, PEI Media
Chairpersons opening remarks

Developing a world class value creation team
- What are the different value creation operating models?
- Which approaches have proven to be most successful?
- Which operating models have not worked?
- What activities are best done in-house and which are best done leveraging external advisors?
- How do you get the best return on investment for your value creation model?
Moderator: Michael Weyrich, Senior Managing Director, Business Transformation, FTI Consulting





CEO and operating partner collaboration to optimise the commercial model and drive revenue growth
- Discuss pragmatic actions that help accelerate profitable growth
- Hear what techniques strengthen CEO/Operating Partner relationships and which ones hinder those relationships
- Learn the key mistakes CEOs and/or Operating Partners regret in their working relationships
- Discuss different models for establishing a common growth agenda between the CEO and Operating Partner
- Find out what CEOs really want to see in their relationship with an Operating Partner
Facilitator: Uwe Doerken, Managing Director, Blue Ridge Partners
The relationship of the operating partner with the board
- How should the operating partner and chair work together?
- Dealing with a challenging relationship with a CEO
- How to ensure access to the rest of the portfolio company not just the story from the board
- What is the ideal role on the board for an operating partner?
Moderator: Rob Southern, Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal
Keynote interview: how a leading PE firm has used tech to improve valuations
Coffee & Networking
How to engage in real digital transformation
- To what extent is it the role of PE to incubate new digital ventures?
- Are the lines between PE and venture blurring?
- Do you keep digital ventures separate or incorporate within the wider business?
- Showing the impact of digital ventures within portfolio companies on exit value
Moderator: Sarah Walker, Global Head of Private Equity Practice, Salesforce
Implementing a value creation plan in an inflationary environment
- To what extent is inflation impacting approach at portfolio companies?
- Sustaining margins through inflationary pressures
- How managing procurement and supply chain management can enhance resilience
- Practical tips considering how to address inflation in different sectors
Moderator: Andy Searle, Managing Director, Alix Partners
Case Study: How to strategically manage pricing during inflationary times
- The importance of improving price increase capabilities to protect margins and drive growth
- How to approach setting differentiated price increase targets
- How to prepare for and communicate price increases
- How to successfully roll-out price increases
Mark Billige, Chief Executive Officer, Simon-Kucher & Partners
in conversation with
Christian Atherton, Managing Director, PAI Performance Group, PAI Partners
Networking Lunch
Building your sales toolkit
- Practical examples of leveraging tools for driving sales growth within portfolio companies
- How Operating Partners can best help their portfolio companies to build and leverage the right sales toolkit
- How sales toolkits are changing for the post-pandemic world of hybrid sales teams
Moderator: Moti Shahani, Managing Director, Blue Ridge Partners
Scaling businesses internationally
- How being nimble can help businesses overcome barriers of international expansion
- The importance of working with local experts and partners in new markets
- Finding talent in new geographies and how remote workforces can play a role
Moderator: Sam Perry, Director, Strategic Alliances – Private Equity, Globalization Partners
Developing an effective Go-To-Market strategy
- What factors to consider when developing a strategy
- Understanding the size and potential for your product
- How to reach and sell to potential customers
Moderator: Dennis Buecker, Partner, Roland Berger
Procurement: from cost-cutting to value creation
- Why it is essential to move beyond to quick wins
- To what extent should procurement be included in diligence?
- What does procurement transformation look like in practice?
Moderator: Claire Trachet, Fractional CFO at high growth companies, Independent
Case study: Using data science in value creation
- Defining a strategic roadmap for improving data maturity
- The challenges of finding a data leader in growth businesses
- How making better use of data can increase valuations
Anush Newman, Managing Director, JMAN Group
in conversation with:
Gaurav Bhatnagar, Vice President, Permira
Practical tips for addressing cyber risk within a PE portfolio
- How cyber risk has emerged as a major risk and how it impacts due diligence?
- How to continuously monitor the cyber posture of PE portfolio?
- How to onboard PE portfolio to encourage them improving their performance on cyber security
Facilitator: Luc Declerck, Managing Director, Board of Cyber
Bridging ESG into digital and tech transformation
- Using ESG and sustainability data in the cloud
- How are companies using ESG and sustainability data to make investment decisions?
- Case studies of successful ESG and digital integration
Moderator: Ewa Treitz, Private Equity Business Development EMEA, AWS
How to use data science to power growth
- How are GPs gathering data?
- What tech solutions are available for GPs looking at operational management of assets?
- Advice for generalists looking to these areas on engaging with consultants
Moderator: Adam Williams, Vice President Private Equity, Symphony
Recruiting CEOs for PE backed companies
- Situational vs. sector experience: do you need both
- What makes an exceptional CEO?
- How can operating partners help CEOs reach peak performance?
Moderator: James Berkeley, Managing Director, Ellice Consulting
Implementing HR excellence within your portfolio
- Distinguishing between HR & talent: why is HR often overlooked by PE?
- How can PE help create agile teams to succeed in a fast-moving digital world?
- What new roles are firms considering?
Moderator: Katherine Sharaf, Director, Bain Executive Network, Bain & Company Network
How is the c-suite evolving in an increasingly digital world?
- Does a typical CTO have the relevant expertise to manage a digital value creation plan?
- Why more firms are hiring Chief Product Officers, Chief Digital Officers & Chief Data Officers.
- Where and how to find talent in a competitive environment
Moderator: Tim Cook, Partner, Acertitude
The importance of culture on a value creation plan
- Implementing a plan on culture from day one
- What tools can be used to support culture at a firm?
- How to identify a toxic culture and how to implement change
Moderator: David Cooper, Founding Partner, Cooper Limon
Coffee & Networking
Best practices in advisor management
- Finding the right advisor and ensuring the most suitable advisors are chosen
- How to get the most out of advisors once working with them
- Which relationship and governance structure to be implemented
Moderator: Charlie Gregson, Managing Director, UK&US, COMATCH





Close of conference followed by cocktail reception
Agenda
Operating Partners Europe - Day 2 - Thursday 12th
Registration and Networking Breakfast sponsored by FTI Consulting
Invitation-only Think Tank for Operating Partners
This closed-door session is an opportunity to share first-hand accounts on how to best position yourself in your career as an operating partner. The think tank will expose the toughest challenges operating partners face daily and will allow you to learn best practices in dealing with them.
Roundtable discussions
Begin the day with informal discussions on key areas of focus for operating partners
- Key Growth Levers – Jamie Riley (Alexander Group
- Cybersecurity – Luc Declerck (Board of Cyber)
- Digital – Claudio Crivelli (Salesforce)
- Data Science – Anush Newman (JMAN)
- Pricing – Mark Billige (Simon Kucher)
- Boards – Warwick Nash (Independent)






Carveouts from a tech perspective
- The art of IT separation in carve-out operations
- Estimating the cost and time required to separate systems
- Why the value creation programme and the carve-out roadmap must be connected
- Examples of PE doing carveouts well
Moderator: Shripad Ghanekar, Partner – M&A Advisory and Program Transformation, Wipro
Practical steps to embedding ESG within value creation
- How do you get key stakeholders – both the deal team and the portfolio co management team – to see ESG as a real value creator?
- How have you been able to drive value from ESG?
- How do you measure this? Both internally (data and reporting), but also externally (leveraging ratings agencies)
- Beyond the E, what do you see as key drivers of S&G going forward?
Moderator: Marc Lino, Partner, Global ESG leader for Private Equity, Bain & Company





Coffee & Networking
The future of work and what it means for PE backed businesses
- Managing hybrid teams – the response to changing employee priorities and remote working
- Embracing an accelerated digital workplace: onboarding, enablement and engagement across a distributed business model
- Ensuring that Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) remains a core focus in times of volatility and business disruption
- The importance of trust and the employee voice in creating successful PE-backed businesses
Moderator: Peter Harte, Group Vice President EMEA, UKG, Ultimate Kronos Group





Close of main conference
Invitation only working group sessions
These unique sessions will offer an opportunity for operating partners to discuss different topics of value creation in small groups allowing you to build your network of operating partners with similar areas of expertise and learn from an expert on the topic
Working Group A: Practical tips for putting ESG at the centre of a value creation plan
Facilitator: Fabian Engels, Senior Partner, Roland Berger
Working Group B: Value creation vs. value protection: creating returns through digital transformation
Facilitator: Paul Kelly, Managing Director, AlixPartners
Working Group C: Building a better pipeline through the sales play system
Facilitator: Kate Donaldson and Tom Whiteley, Partners, Bain & Company
Lunch & close of conference
Networking with Operating Partner professionals
The 12th annual forum returned to London this May. The event welcomed 300+ value creation operating partners and expert advisors for two days of networking at the must-attend event for anyone involved in value creation in private equity. Attendees benefited from our expansive European community who were in attendance throughout the forum.
Attendees participated in an agenda packed with in-person networking opportunities throughout the two-day event. Including interactive Q&As, think tanks, roundtables, networking breaks, an evening drinks reception, and meeting with fellow operating partners during closed-door operating partner only sessions.
The in-person networking experience
Network in-person in London
Attendees connected with their peers during interactive workshops, networking breaks, an evening drinks reception, roundtable discussions and structured networking between operating partners and advisors.
More operating partners only sessions
The annual operating partners think tank took place, in addition to value creation working groups, and an operating partners only drinks reception.
Build new connections
Previous attendees include Advent International, BC Partners, Carlyle Group, CDPQ, CVC Capital Partners, Hg, PAI Partners, Partners Group, Pemira, Pollen Street Capital, InvestCorp, KKR Capstone, and many more.
Connecting with private market professionals
Testimonials from attendees
Company
Attendee of the forum
As my first Operating Partners Forum event, I found it incredibly valuable to spend time with operating partners in other funds and discuss the opportunities an…
Attendee of the forum
Great operating partner attendees, content, and networking. This is a crucial event for monitoring the pulse of European private equity.
Attendee of the forum
The exchange of ideas between operating partners and their advisors, CEOs, and board members, brought useful insights and re-energised me.
Company
Attendee of the forum
As my first Operating Partners Forum event, I found it incredibly valuable to spend time with operating partners in other funds and discuss the opportunities and challenges that our portfolio companies are facing. It was also helpful to be introduced to a wide range of advisors who have the experience to support management team. I will be attending next year!
Pre-Event Resources
View the speakers

Dominica Adam
Chief Sustainability Officer, Apax Partners SAS

Shahbaz Alam
Worldwide Technical Lead, Private Equity, AWS

Gilad G. Amir
Digital Operating Partner, Pollen Street Capital

Christian Atherton
Managing Director, PAI Performance Group, PAI Partners

Christophe Aulnette
Senior Advisor, Apax Partners

Vasa Babic
Partner – Private Equity, Digital Alpha

Matt J Baird
Managing Director, Operations & Strategy, OMERS Private Equity Europe Limited

James Berkeley
Managing Director, Ellice Consulting

Gaurav Bhatnagar
Vice President, Permira

Mark Billige
CEO, Simon-Kucher and Partners

Natasha Buckley
Vice President, Head of ESG, HarbourVest Partners

Dennis Buecker
Partner, Roland Berger

Maria Carradice
Managing Director, Mayfair Equity Partners

Violette Castagné
Value Creation Partner, LDC

Tim Cook
Partner, Accertitude

David Cooper
Founding Partner, Cooper Limon

Bulend Corbacioglu
Managing Partner, CaBo Capital

Claudio Crivelli
Senior Director Private Equity Practice, Salesforce

Antonin de Margerie
Managing Director-Portfolio Performance, Eurazeo

Guillaume de Montchalin
Managing Director - Portfolio Performance, Eurazeo

Luc Declerck
Managing Director, Board of Cyber

Merche del Valle
Managing Director, Chief Talent and Chief HR Officer, Grain Management

Thomas Dixon
Principal, Blackstone

Uwe Doerken
Managing Director, Blue Ridge Partners

Kate Donaldson
Partner, Bain & Company

Steven Dunne
Senior Partner, Frog Capital

Johann Dupont
Partner, Abénex

Dr. Fabian Engels
Senior Partner, Roland Berger

Polly Firman
Associate, Sustainability, Actis

Shripad Ghanekar
Partner - M&A Advisory and Program Transformation, Wipro

Miles Graham
Operating Partner, Operating Partners Group

Charlie Gregson
Managing Director, UK&US, COMATCH

Jane Grewar
Operating Partner, Limerston Capital

Shafali Gupta
Principal, Milestone Performance Partners, Bregal Milestone

Simon Hardy
Director, European Investment Team, Strategic Value Partners

Will Harman
Principal, Global Margin Expansion Lead, Apax Partners

Peter Harte
Group Vice President EMEA, UKG

Ben Hollowood
Portfolio Director, Bowmark Capital

Rachael Holtzberg
Digital Operating Partner, TDR Capital

Alison Humphrey
Director of ESG, PJT Partners

Jean-Michel Janoueix
Operating Partner, Tikehau Capital

Leticia Jin
Portfolio Manager, Development Partners International

Dieter John
CEO & Chairman of Management Board, Planet Home Group

Paul Kelly
Managing Director, AlixPartners

Alex Kesseler
Head of Performance Improvement, Antin

Tobias Klaiber
Operating Partner, Aurelius Group

Sachin Korantak
Partner, Conditor Capital

Anne-Marie Laing
Transformation Professional, Agilitas

Lorenzo Levi
Managing Director and Operating Partner, CDPQ

Marc Lino
Senior Partner, Global ESG Leader for Private Equity, Bain&Company

Matt Little
Experienced Board Advisor, Exec & CPTO, Independent

Alex Lizcano
Managing Director, Cinven

Selim Loukil
Managing Director, Head of Portfolio Support Group, Advent International

Clément Marty
Managing Director, Portfolio Digital Transformation, Ardian

Oliver Meakin
Senior Portfolio Advisor, Equistone Partners Europe

Michaela Merlin-Jones
Vice President, Vendor Optimization Specialist, Apax Partners

Warwick Nash
Chairman, NED, Advisor , Various PE backed businesses

Esther Nayyar
Managing Director, Due Diligence and Value Creation, ICG

Anush Newman
Managing Director, JMAN Group

Tony O'Carroll
Head of Investment-Ops Team and Managing Director, SVPGlobal

Maria Orlowski
Director, Inflexion

Sheilja Patel
Director, Portfolio Operations, BC Partners

Sam Perry
Director of Strategic Alliances & Private Equity, Globalization Partners

Mathieu Pinson
Partner - Investments, Zetland Capital

Gabriele Questa
Managing Director, KKR & Co.

Jamie Riley
Principal, Alexander Group

Alejandro Rodríguez-Carmona
CFO, IMF Business School

Henrik Rundqvist
Head of Purchasing, Altor Equity Partners

Wessel Schevernels
Senior Director Asset Management and Sustainability, PATRIZIA AG

Andy Searle
Managing Director, Alix Partners

Guy Semmens
Managing Partner, Gyrus Capital

Moti Shahani
Managing Director, Blue Ridge Partners

Lucy Shamdasani
Managing Director and EMEA Portfolio Chief Information Officer, The Carlyle Group

Katherine Sharaf
Director, Bain Executive Network, Bain & Company

Rob Southern
Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal

Birger Steen
Partner, Summa Equity

Annette Thomas
Senior Advisor, General Atlantic

Claire Trachet
Fractional CFO at high growth companies, Independent

Ewa Treitz
Private Equity Business Development EMEA, AWS

Albert Vazquez-Agusti
Partner, Sway Ventures

Sarah Walker
VP-Global Head of Private Equity Practice, Salesforce

Lisa Weaver-Lambert
Data and Digital Portfolio Executive

Michael Weyrich
Senior Managing Director, Business Transformation, FTI Consulting

Tom Whiteley
Partner, Bain & Company

Adam Williams
Vice President, Private Equity, Symphony

Victoria Wood
Operating Partner, Limerston Capital

Serge Younes
Head of Sustainability, Investindustrial
Sponsorship opportunities
Covid precautions
To help keep you and our colleagues safe, we have embraced the following principles to ensure the smooth running of our event portfolio, globally.
Planning and risk assessment
The Operating Partners Forum: Europe has a detailed plan and risk assessment in light of local government and health authority frameworks, now specific to the Covid pandemic. Our staff are working to event industry protocols to minimise and mitigate risk.
Entry requirements
We recommend that you take a lateral flow test 24 hours before attending the event to help keep you and your fellow attendees safe.
Cleanliness
PEI Media is working with our venue partners to ensure the highest standards of hygiene and cleanliness. This includes a deep clean pre-event and continuous sanitisation during the event, with a focus on high-contact areas such as lifts, staircases, door handles, restrooms and food and beverage delivery points.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Attendees and staff at all PEI Media events may be required to use items of PPE in accordance with local government and health authority regulations. This could include wearing a face covering, the use of gloves and/or face screens in certain parts of the venue.
Contactless
Where possible PEI Media will encourage attendees to minimise their contacts. This includes the event registration process and also contact between attendees. PEI Media encourages all attendees to avoid close social contact such as hand-shakes and to find digital alternatives to exchanging details rather than business cards.
Attendee numbers and density
PEI Media will assess and manage in line with local government and health authority mandates the number of delegates in the event space and the flow of attendee traffic in and out of plenary and break-out rooms and around exhibition rooms and other meeting spaces.
Personal hygiene
In tandem with venue measures, PEI Media encourages attendees to take full advantage of hand sanitisation stations around the venue.
Track and trace
We will work with local authorities as required to track, trace and contact attendees in line with the applicable privacy legislation.
Medical
Qualified first-aid staff will be ready to assist anyone falling ill for whatever reason. In the event of any attendee suffering Covid-related symptoms, the PEI Media team will follow local health guidance in ensuring the safety of all participants.