International
Operating Partners Forum New York 2022
19 - 20 October 2022,
Convene, 117 W 46th St, New York
The largest global event for private equity value creation
Private Equity International’s Operating Partners Forum New York is the world’s largest event dedicated to operating partners. The 12th annual event is focused on best practices in private equity portfolio operations and value creation across all functional business areas.
Join the PE operating partner community to discuss and debate the best strategies to deliver maximum portfolio growth this October in-person in New York City.
Extensive opportunities to network, compare best practices, build new relationships, and influence the future of value creation models make this an event not to be missed.
“You have to keep yourself current and our firms are not academies for becoming better operating partners…The PEI International Operating Partners Forum is the only academy that exists for Operating Partners.”
Aaron Miller
Head of Apollo Portfolio Performance Solutions
Apollo Global Management
Create the most operationally efficient portfolio companies
Hear first-hand perspectives on how to further develop your operational efficiencies by looking at successful models.
Network with top value creators
Meet with the largest community of operational experts in one place over 2 days.
Learn key strategies for cross-portfolio initiatives
Find the right tools and knowledge to create value.
2022 agenda
The 2022 agenda will feature the most prominent functional areas in value creation for your portfolio companies. Our unique agenda offers interactive working group discussions, think tanks, panels, plus our women in PE lunch. Click the headings below for a snapshot of some of the top features:
Value Creation
- One hour invitation-only think tanks each day for operating partners to select:
- advanced/seasoned operating partners
- emerging operating partners
- human capital operating partners
- digital operating partners
- How operating teams work best with investment teams
- Operating partner engagement models: what will the future of value creation look like?
- How 100-day plans are changing in the current environment and years to come
- Governance – selecting and managing boards as a value creation lever
- Effective value creation strategies for carveouts and M&As
- The archetype of a world class operating team
Sales & Revenue Growth
- The future of sales: virtual sales best practices and the impact of virtual workforces
- Improving pricing strategy during inflationary times
- Uncovering the most important GTM levers
- Leveraging customer success initiatives for growth
- Uncovering revenue growth stories and early warning signs with operating partners
- Developing a successful ecommerce strategy in an increasingly digital world
Human Capital
- Human capital operating partners think tank: a one hour value creation war room led by and exclusively for operating partners
- Working with CEOs: dos and don’ts
- Big data & workforce analytics
- What will the future role of the human capital operating partner look like?
- Talent acquisition, development, and assessment best practices during challenging times
- Integrating culture for success
- Accelerating management team performance post transaction
- The future of human capital and virtual workforces: what lies ahead
Technology
- Digital and technology operating partners think tank: a one hour value creation war room led by and exclusively for operating partners
- Digital transformations: how things will change
- Working with CIOs/CTOs: dos and don’ts
- Digitizing the customer journey: keys to success
- Unlocking the cloud revolution for portfolio value creation
- Advanced data science to govern the business throughout the investment life-cycle
- Leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning for value creation
- Cybersecurity in the modern age: dos and don’ts
ESG
- Leveraging your portfolio’s supply chain to maximize ESG impact
- How to execute a decarbonization and energy efficiency/renewable strategy across your portfolio, including funding solutions that eliminate capital constraints to scale savings
- ESG due diligence best practices
- What is the role of the operating partner in driving ESG initiatives?
- How are ESG based KPIs and metrics being used?
- How does your firm think about ESG, and what specific areas within E, S, and G are covered?
Supply Chain & Procurement
- Navigating supply chain disruptions and post-COVID best practices
- Impact of technologies and today’s fast paced e-commerce on your supply chain
- Supply chain cost optimization: individual company vs. cross-portfolio programs
- Procurement transformations in the first 100 days
Finance
- Add-on acquisition readiness: adding value through the finance function
- How can PE best support portco CFOs?
- Transforming finance from a cost-center into a value-creation engine
- Identifying, attracting, and recruiting top CFO talent
- Enabling a data-driven CFO
Marketing
- What it really means to have a shared methodology and common language across Marketing, Sales, and Customer Success
- Marketing as a growth lever in the first 100 days
- How are you tracking your marketing performance and the effectiveness of marketing spend, what channels do you use?
- Digital marketing best practices: operating partners share their thoughts
- How does marketing support sales: what works and what doesn’t?
- Marketing due diligence: understanding what needs to be done pre-acquisition
2022 Speakers
2021 Attendees
What our attendees say
Dana Allen
Gauge Capital
Was great to trade ideas with peers across other firms to see how they are tackling similar challenges & to learn areas they are able to drive more value.
Kush Tulsidas
One Rock Capital Partners
It is a fantastic place to network with top talent in PE and learn the cutting edge work that their firms are doing to create value. I highly recommend.
Greg J Pappas
Berkshire Partners
The Operating Partners Forum is the foremost event where the largest ecosystem of operating partners, suppliers and resources gather annually.
2021 Agenda
Download the 2021 agenda to see the timely and relevant topics were covered at last year’s Forum. These topics shaped the discussions at the Operating Partners Forum New York.
If you are interested in a speaking role please contact contact Marc Mele at marc.m@peimedia.com.
All times are listed in Eastern Time (ET)
Agenda
Day One - Wednesday 20th
Registration and breakfast
Think tanks for full-time operating partners: Comparing operating partner models — value creation war room (invitation-only)
This closed-door room discussion will allow you to learn and share best practices of successful operating partner models. The think tank will also allow you to submit topics to be covered in looking at best value creation practices and the toughest challenges operating partners face daily. Key areas to be discussed include:
• What is your model today and what are you focused on for the operating partner model of tomorrow?
• Comparing innovative ways, resources, and team structures
• Bridging the gap between the investment teams’ model and what actually happens in reality
• Comparing engagement approaches
Room 1
Facilitator:
Steve Larned, Senior Principal, New State Capital Partners
Room 2
Facilitators:
Geoffrey Baird, Independent Operating Executive, Palladium Equity Partners
David Feierstein, Managing Partner, Ronin Equity Partners
PEI’s welcome and chairman’s opening remarks
Seth Kerker, Director of Events, Americas, PEI
Chairman:
Jon Weber, Head of Global Portfolio Operations Group, Elliott Investment Management

The impact of disruption on the future of work: leadership, culture, and talent
- Leading with impact in periods of constant disruption
- Scaling portfolio companies in a hybrid working environment
- Unlocking the importance of culture in value creation
- Leveraging the importance of DEI in talent retention
- Course-correcting the talent strategy post-pandemic
- Planning for further disruptions in different industries and sectors
Moderator:
Ted Bililies, Managing Director and Chief Talent Officer, AlixPartners
Panelists:
David Cohen, Managing Director, Human Capital, Kelso & Company
Amy LoPiccolo, Vice President, Leadership and Talent, B Capital Group
Hannah Gräfin von Waldersee, Vice President, Strategy and Innovation, Insight Partners
Steven Maxwell, Senior Vice President, Portfolio Human Capital, Audax Private Equity





The common characteristics of faster growing businesses
- What do faster growing companies do to accelerate their growth and outperform their peers?
- How do they embed these characteristics in their organization?
- What are some examples of how PE firms transformed commercial organizations?
- How did these changes impact the valuation of the business?
Moderator:
Jim Corey, Managing Partner, Blue Ridge Partners
Panelists:
Ashley Glover, Former President, RealPage
Jerry Hughes, Director, Commercial Excellence, American Securities
Todd Markson, Operating Partner, Tech Opportunities, Bain Capital
The archetype of a world class operating team
- Uncovering where successful operating partners focus their attention, value creation team processes, how to deploy an operating team, and the engagement approach
- Four key areas: staff, proven value creation processes, the investment lifecycle, and engaging with the CEOs
- Comparing operating partner models and the evolution of operating teams
- Making the “magic quadrant” work: how the deal partner, operating partner, CEO and board chairperson can work together to deliver value creation
- Bridging the gap between the investment teams’ model and what actually happens in reality
- Is the operating partner model changing? If so, how?
- Holistic value creation playbooks: what lies ahead?
Moderator:
Amy Daly, Americas Private Equity Consulting Leader, EY
Panelists:
Michael Kohlsdorf, President, Francisco Partners Consulting
Aaron Miller, Partner, Head of Portfolio Performance Solutions, Apollo Global Management
Jon Weber, Head of Global Portfolio Operations Group, Elliott Investment Management




The end of the pandemic: accelerating challenges and opportunities for private equity and portfolio companies
The end of the pandemic may be harder to manage than the pandemic itself from a business and financial perspective. Issues to be addressed in looking at challenges and opportunities:
- Inconsistent demand signals posing challenges for revenue forecasts
- Severe supply chain disruptions with impacts on timely delivery and product costs
- Labor shortages and wage inflation
- Transportation costs through the roof
- Work life balance issues moving from remote back to on-site work
- “Free money” to invest – a curse or a blessing?
Moderator:
Markus Lahrkamp, Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal
Panelists:
Bill Fry, Managing Director, American Securities
Doron Grosman, President and CEO, Global Container Terminals
Jason Karl, Principal, Advent International
Brian Slobodow, Operating Partner, HGGC
Networking Break
Track 1 | Reimagining OP-CEO connections: where strategy and delivery collide
- Offering a basic “cheat sheet” on how to recruit exceptional CEOs by highlighting some memorable stories (and learnings) from the trenches
- Detailing the markings of brilliant CEOs, and what it truly takes to be an exceptional leader
- Uncovering which current PE-CEO alignment and engagement practices the audience needs to know about most
- Exploring how PE executives can help CEOs reach peak performance and operate at max potential
Moderator:
Kevin O’Neill, Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Acertitude
Panelists:
Doron Grosman, President and CEO, Global Container Terminals
Benjamin Humphreys, Senior Operating Executive, Monomoy Capital Partners
Nick Winter, Managing Director, Head of North America Portfolio Operations, Värde Partners




Track 2 | Add-on acquisition readiness: adding value through the finance function
Add-ons are an important, and growing, part of the private equity playbook. Well-managed integrations can lead to growth, expansion and higher valuations, but poorly managed integrations, wherein the finance variable is not properly structured and monitored won’t in fact, add on, they’ll just subtract from. In this discussion, we explore the critical role of the finance function to drive value and maximize returns:
- Understanding bottlenecks
- Gaining visibility on hidden costs
- Uncovering inefficient processes
- Discovering unnoticed opportunity to realize the returns on investment faster
Moderator:
Jesse Weber, Private Equity Lead, Sage Intacct
Panelists:
Bill Klein, President, Consero Global
John Mavriyannakis, Partner, Growth, Maverix Private Equity
Andrew Walshe, Head of Portfolio Operations, Two Sigma Private Investments, Sightway Capital
Track 3 | Digital as a growth lever
- Digital marketing strategy: how to automate and maximize touchpoints to acquire and engage customers at scale
- Customer experience: how to optimize customer experience management and master the customer journey
- Analytics: how to leverage actionable data and clear KPIs to increase ROI and facilitate quick wins
Moderator:
Sarah Walker, Vice President, Global Head of Private Equity Practice, Salesforce
Panelists:
Jarrad Berman, Vice President, Digital Transformation, TZP Group
Kurt Brimberry, Senior Associate, Summit Partners
Track 4 | Post-COVID talent acquisition, development, and assessment for the lower level
- Grasping the lower-level talent execution plan
- What levels in the organization does your PE firm get involved in talent selection?
- Talent retention best practices in today’s world
- In our current environment, what particular people dynamics do you pay attention to and track?
- Challenges and opportunities of virtual/hybrid workforces
Moderator:
Tim Sanders, Vice President of Customer Insights, Upwork
Panelists:
Tracey Abbott, Senior Operating Lead, Partners Group
Nicole Christopoulos, Vice President, People Strategy & Culture, Summit Partners
Jon Davies, Managing Director, Head of Talent, Lightyear Capital
Kristin Brown Patrick, Senior Operating Partner, Human Capital, New State Capital Partners





Track 5 | The future value creation supply chain playbook
Companies are looking for growth by expanding into new markets, new regions and into new customer bases. Many firms are grappling with continued supply chain disruptions and respect the imperative of assessing and transforming supply chain health during all stages of the deal cycle. Join this session to learn how supply chain is changing from traditional value creation strategies and what market catalysts are creating the need for more innovative approaches to value creation. Participants will hear from the experts on sourcing, inventory, logistics, and distribution fulfilment strategies that create value and drive returns while mitigating risk and meeting customers’ shifting demands.
Moderator:
Wendy Buxton, President, LynnCo Supply Chain Solutions
Panelists:
Zaid Nesheiwat, Vice President, Portfolio Operations, ORIX Capital Partners
Brian Slobodow, Operating Partner, HGGC
Daniel Soroka, Senior Operating Partner, Graham Partners
Track 6 | Carveout 3.0 – moving to the next level of value creation
- The focus on Carveout 1.0 to 2.0 to 3.0 provides insight into the maturity of driving value in complex transactions
- Developing a strategically aligned value creation plan early in the process
- Proven execution excellence approaches in separating on the buy and sell side
- Best practices in working with service providers during the carveout
- What is the biggest challenge or risk to be managed in a successful carveout deal?
Moderator:
Paul Lennick, Senior Vice President, M&A Services, ContinuServe
Panelists:
Andy Pickens, Managing Director – Data and Digital Transformation, Apollo Global Management
Robert Roley, Director of Portfolio Operations, TPG Capital
Luis Sosa, Senior Vice President, Portfolio Operations, Platinum Equity


Andy Pickens
Managing Director, Data & Digital Transformation, APPS, Apollo Global Management
Read bio

Track 7 | How 100-day plans are changing in the current environment and years to come
- Fast start: coming out strong from day one in onboarding new portfolio companies even in the face of recent uncertainty
- What’s key for your first 100 days to convert to execution?
- How to prioritize: identifying the most important value creation areas to focus on
- Best practices for the first 90–180 days vs. 365+
- Day 1-100: structured approaches, pragmatic actions, and tools to bring about rapid alignment and focus
Moderator:
Sean Adkins, Managing Partner, Mergers and Acquisitions, West Monroe Partners
Panelists:
Brian Chu, Senior Managing Director, Centerbridge Partners
Asheesh Gupta, Managing Director, Portfolio Support, Audax Private Equity
Michael Song, Managing Director, Portfolio Operations, Providence Equity
Cici Zheng, Principal, ParkerGale Capital





Track 8 | Recruiting top CFO talent for PE-backed companies
- What makes a candidate a good CFO for a PE-backed company?
- What is your greatest challenge when it comes to recruiting brilliant portfolio CFOs?
- How to assess CFO candidates during hiring?
- How can CFOs drive the value creation plan?
Moderator:
Atta Tarki, CEO and Managing Director, ECA Partners
Panelists:
Angela Geffre, Chief Human Resources Officer, Sun Capital Partners
Jim Morris, Operating Partner, Sun Capital Partners
Track 9 | Using GTM strategies to drive ROI in today’s over-heated market
- Bidding with confidence based on in-depth commercial due diligence
- Driving GTM change early enough to significantly impact valuation
- Aligning GTM resources to growth buyers and new buyer journeys
- Deploying new sales roles for new product and segment selling
- Building a sustainable customer-development and lead-gen engine
- Strengthening RevOps to sustain GTM change and integrate buyer journeys
Moderator:
Marc Metzner, Vice President, Alexander Group
Panelists:
Amy Kramer, Operating Partner, Level Equity
Jairo Romero, Managing Director, GTM Excellence, LLR Partners
Bijal Sheth, Operations Principal, Pamlico Capital
Kush Tulsidas, Operating Partner, One Rock Capital Partners





Women in PE and VC portfolio operations lunch (invitation-only)
This closed-door lunch discussion will explore what it’s like being a woman in PE and VC portfolio operations:
- What are the issues causing a disparity in genders?
- Exploring career paths, development, and how to position yourself as female leaders
- Is your firm focused on women’s leadership at portfolio companies?
- Does your company have any specific programs, leadership coaching and assessments geared towards promoting women’s leadership?
- Are there any changes in recruiting that will create a more equal playing field?
- Looking at trends and stats in gender in PE and VC
Facilitators:
Toya Asbury, Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal
Susan Clark, Managing Director, Operations, Sun Capital Partners
Sponsored by:
Networking lunch
Track 10 | Driving impact: what makes a great PE talent partner?
- PE talent partner market trends: driving better and faster execution
- How do you provide the most value in your talent partner role? When does your firm engage the talent partner?
- Talent partner-deal team dynamics: better identifying opportunities and risks during diligence
- Uncovering specific and tactical talent partner value creation plans
- Establishing playbooks of evaluation, resources, and support at different stages
- Key success factors in looking at better use of data and ongoing monitoring
Moderator:
Katie Marchetti, Managing Director, BluWave
Panelists:
Ashley Day, Former Chief Talent Officer
Merche del Valle, Managing Director and Chief Talent Officer, Grain Management
Alice Mann, Operating Partner, Human Capital, Blue Wolf Capital Partners
Michelle Nasir, Chief Talent Officer, Arsenal Capital Partners





Track 11 | Winning after the deal: the key to smooth post-merger transitions
- Formulating a successful implementation strategy
- Navigating the nuances of employment transitions and key employee retention
- Considerations for company culture alignment and employee integration
- Ensuring day 1 readiness through effective communication
Moderator:
Adam Sheffield, Chief Revenue Officer, Global Upside
Panelists:
David Feierstein, Managing Partner, Ronin Equity Partners
Daniel Goetz, Managing Director, Portfolio Value Creation, Siris Capital
Kelley Morrell, Senior Managing Director, Tactical Opportunities, Blackstone
Track 12 | The changing lens of the CFO – pre and post pandemic trends
- K-shaped recovery impact
- Liquidity focus
- Automation
- Investment planning
- Workforce structure/employee retention
Moderator:
Michael Hennessey, Managing Director, Grant Thornton
Panelists:
Neely Pielet, Director, New Mountain Capital
Howard Reba, Head of Portfolio Finance, CI Capital Partners
Track 13 | Addressing diversity and inclusion as a business imperative
- D&I approaches: operationalizing it and interfacing with portfolio company leaders for D&I initiatives
- What best practices can you share regarding advising CEOs and management teams at the portco levels?
- What is holding PE back from achieving diversity?
- Looking at initiatives from different PE firms, what has been successful? What goals do you set for the portfolio companies relative to D&I?
- How would you best describe your firm’s D&I work at the fund and portfolio companies?
- KPIs for diversity: measuring effectiveness
- Diversity and leadership: what can be done better? How are you thinking about diversity of boards?
Moderator:
Jennifer Busse, Director, RSM
Panelists:
Kara Helander, Managing Director, Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, The Carlyle Group
Natalie Ings, Managing Director, Portfolio Solutions, Lightyear Capital
Kate Migliaro, Principal, Talent Management and Organizational Effectiveness, Apollo Global Management
Melissa Mounce, Managing Director, Leadership Talent and Diversity, GTCR
Track 14 | Cybersecurity in the modern age: dos and don’ts
- Best practices in communicating cyber risks to boards
- The importance of cybersecurity in acquisition diligence
- Reducing complexity and costs of your cyber tools and services stack
Moderator:
Jamey Cummings, Partner – Cybersecurity and Technology, JM Search
Panelists:
Matt Hollcraft, Group Chief Information Security Officer, Hellman & Friedman
Neil Kimber, Operating Principal, Accel-KKR
Adam Mattina, Senior Vice President and Deputy CISO, Blackstone
Track 15 | Critical dimensions in pre-deal operational due diligence
- How do you really get at what the opportunities are to understand what the value creation plan should be?
- Coming out of the crisis, how do you think PE’s behaviour will change across deal making and the extent of due diligence?
- Uncovering operating partner synergies and best practices in the deal evaluation phase
- Operating partner success factors when partnering with investment teams
- Exposing new challenges in assessing operational risks
- Critical pre-deal diligence elements in cost savings, technology, human capital, sales, operational planning, data, and the investment thesis
Moderator:
Gary Hoover, Vice President, Global Private Equity Practice, TBM Consulting Group
Panelists:
Geoffrey Baird, Independent Operating Executive, Palladium Equity Partners
Gilyana Lidzheeva, Director of Portfolio Operations, Frontenac
Michael Monagle, Principal, Portfolio Operations, Providence Equity
Lane Wiggers, Managing Director, Operating Partner Program, Argosy Private Equity





Networking coffee break
Track 16 | Accelerating management team performance post transaction
- Critical factors in top management teams to drive value creation
- What pitfalls to avoid
- What’s the right timeline post transaction?
- How do you spend your time post-transaction?
- What jobs to change out first? What are the most critical jobs?
- What would a quick CEO transition look like?
- How can you conduct talent assessments without hurting the relationship between the management team and the deal team?
- Relationships with the board; what does a high performing team look like?
Moderator:
Dan Hawkins, CEO, Summit Leadership Partners
Panelists:
Bala Ganesan, Managing Director, Special Situations, Oaktree Capital Management
Marco Mendes, Head of Portfolio Support Group, North America, Advent International
Glenn Stevens, Partner, Talent Management, Apollo Global Management




Track 17 | Digital transformations and innovation to drive investment value
- Building a roadmap for technological change
- Digital innovation and operations — going beyond ideation, conception, and analysis and turning strategy into real delivery, particularly in the context of a novel initiative or product
- Digital transformations in the post COVID-19 world: how digital initiatives and innovation have accelerated and what does the future hold
- How can PE firms utilize innovative technologies that return near-term, sustainable investment value without getting stuck in a never-ending cycle of transformation projects?
- Digital workplace transformation and product transformation stories
Moderator:
Ravi Narayanan, Americas Head, Strategic Engagement, Wipro
Panelists:
Jarrad Berman, Vice President, Digital Transformation, TZP Group
Raj Kushwaha, Managing Director, Digital Strategy and Innovation, Operating Partner and Chief Digital Officer, Warburg Pincus
Harrison Lung, Partner, Portfolio Value Creation, Siris Capital



Raj Kushwaha
Managing Director, Co-Head Value Creation and Chief Digital Officer, Warburg Pincus
Read bio
Track 18 | How is private equity “future-proofing” and building resilience in its portfolios?
- How PE firms successfully pivoted their portfolio companies toward growth
- How to secure portfolio companies’ liquidity and operational savings during a downturn
- The different ways in which PE firms can set up their portfolio for durable success going forward
- How regional and industry specificities played into the design of PE’s portfolio resiliency strategies
Moderator:
Kevin Burke, Director, M&A, Private Equity and Venture Capital, Globalization Partners
Panelists:
David Acharya, Managing Partner, Acharya Capital Partners
Prashanth Bóccasam, Partner, Cota Capital
Pericles Mazarakis, Managing Partner, Trispan Capital
Track 19 | Leveraging your portfolio’s supply chain to maximize ESG impact
- Procurement’s role in achieving sustainability goals, while reducing costs, managing risk and improving competitive position
- How to execute a decarbonization and energy efficiency/renewable strategy across your portfolio, including funding solutions that eliminate capital constraints to scale savings
- Exploring solutions for managing Scope 3 emissions throughout the supply chain across portfolio companies
- Delivering on supplier diversity and inclusive procurement practices with an ESG framework
Moderator:
Brandon Owens, Vice President of Sustainability, Insight Sourcing Group
Panelists:
Steve Hatfield, Head of US ESG, The Carlyle Group
Leela Ramnath, Director of ESG, Warburg Pincus
Avi Sahi, Chief Commercialization Officer, OGCI Climate Investments
Track 20 | The return of business travel: discussing approaches and what lies ahead
Join a live panel discussion on the business travel landscape in the era of COVID and easing restrictions. Panelists will discuss the approaches their organizations have taken towards business travel, how this has impacted throughout their investment companies and their perspectives on handling employee duty-of-care implications going forward. Through a leveraged procurement lens, we’ll discuss experiences in working with travel related vendors throughout the pandemic, how travel management companies are weathering the storm and what’s top of mind as managed travel re-emerges in major global markets.
Moderator:
Brady Kuhn, Business Development Manager – Global Private Equity, SAP Concur
Panelists:
Adam Cummins, PMO Lead, Global Investment Resources, The Carlyle Group
Michael Farrell, Executive Vice President of Business Development, World Travel, Inc.
Track 21 | Employee healthcare: Strategically balancing program costs with the talent challenges today
How do you drive value during a “war on talent” through a successful benefits strategy? Are benefit offerings simply table stakes – or can they once again help attract/retain or help offset labor related headwinds? Learn how CHROs and CFOs leverage innovative offerings to dramatically improve employee satisfaction, engagement while driving measurable EBITDA through cost avoidance. Challenges to be explored include:
- The Great Resignation and its impact on benefit offerings
- Solutions for 6%-8% – Estimated healthcare trend growth for self-insured employers due to “COVID Hangover”
- Healthcare navigation: balancing financial realities with employee needs
Moderator:
Todd Grove, Vice President, Private Equity, Quantum Health
Panelists:
Michael Frain, Senior Vice President, Shared Services, Warburg Pincus
Christopher Kim, Senior Vice President, Platinum Equity
Enabling a technology-driven CFO: key success factors in the future of value creation
- Finding data driven CFOs and their role in enterprise performance
- How is the CFO role evolving? What does the CFO of the future look like?
- How to get your portfolio companies from tactical to strategic
- Barriers to automate finance and accounting and how to overcome them
- Sharing value creation insights via data analytics and cloud technology
Moderator:
Jesse Weber, Private Equity Lead, Sage Intacct
Panelists:
Bill Klein, President, Consero Global
Howard Reba, Head of Portfolio Finance, CI Capital Partners
Russ Trpkovski, Operating Principal, CVC Capital Partners
Allyson White, Principal, Insight Partners
Interactive Working Group 1 | Deep dive discussion for operating partners only: Writing the next chapter of the value creation playbook
This session will allow the audience to join an interactive roundtable discussion with designated facilitators:
- Moving toward high-tech sustainability and creating long-term value for society
- Modernizing assets through practical implementation of ESG principles
- Using predictive analytics and data intelligence to enhance investment strategy and decision-making
- Leveraging automation and business process optimization to streamline, modernize, and transform costs
Facilitator:
John Annakin, Director, RSM

Interactive Working Group 2 | Deep dive discussion for operating partners only: Reinventing the commercial organization through the eyes of customers (invitation-only)
This session will allow the audience to join an interactive roundtable discussion with designated facilitators.
- Most (85%) commercial organizations expect sales model transformations this year and next
- Planned transformations seem to focus on “inside-out” perspectives – e.g. getting sales meetings in a hybrid world; using content/knowledge capital to obtain leads/meetings
- A better way might be approaching the transformation from the view of prospects/customers and working back into the company
- Reviewing examples of this “outside-in” commercial transformation approach
Facilitator:
Michael Smith, Senior Managing Director, Technology, Media and Telecom Practice, Blue Ridge Partners
Hosted by:

Michael Smith
Senior Managing Director, Technology, Media and Telecom Practice, Blue Ridge Partners
Read bioEnd of day one chairman’s remarks & cocktail reception
Agenda
Day Two - Thursday 21st
Registration and breakfast
Operating partners portfolio operations breakfast deep dive discussion: The future of workforce (invitation-only)
In this session we will discuss the war for talent, the multi-generational workforce, and its impact on investing in manufacturing and distribution businesses. Topics include:
- New requirements for employers in attracting talent in this time of disruption
- Overcoming the labor shortage in industries with an hourly workforce
- Meeting the expectations and differing values of the four generations in the workplace (Boomers, Gen X, Gen Y, Gen Z)
- Improving operations and building an inclusive culture to retain talent
- Effective change management to optimize operations
Facilitators:
Parmesh Bhaskaran, Managing Director, AlixPartners
Ted Bililies, Managing Director and Chief Talent Officer, AlixPartners
Hosted by:
Think tanks for full-time operating partners: value creation war room (invitation-only)
This closed-door discussion will allow you to learn and share best practices of successful operating partners. The think tank will allow you to submit topics to be introduced by the facilitators and discussed in the room. It will allow you to select one of the two rooms:
Room 1 Digital and Technology Operating Partners
Facilitator:
Cory Eaves, Operating Partner, General Atlantic
Room 2 Human Capital Operating Partners
Facilitators:
Anish Batlaw, Operating Partner, General Atlantic
Christopher Kim, Senior Vice President, Platinum Equity
Chairman’s welcome
Chairman:
Jim Corey, Managing Partner, Blue Ridge Partners

The future of technology and digital initiatives in working with your portfolio companies
- Using technology to make your processes and businesses more efficient in the current environment and in the years to come
- Looking at the overlap of tech with other functions in the company (sales, customer support, etc.)
- Approaches to working with portco leadership on technology initiatives
- Understanding the challenges around web-enablement and changes in consumer behavior
- Recent digital transformation and digital disruption stories within specific industries
Moderator:
Spencer Farrar, Private Equity Business Development, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Panelists:
Cory Eaves, Operating Partner, General Atlantic
Amar Ghai, Director, Head of Technology (Americas), KKR Capstone
Misha Logvinov, Managing Director and Head of IT Strategy, EQT Partners
Uncovering the pricing due diligence playbook
- What does your pricing playbook look like? How to critically evaluate top-line improvements when bidding
- Evaluating potential acquisitions through structured pricing analysis
- Key elements and opportunities where price is a key concern and major aspect of the investment thesis
- First-hand accounts in looking at commercial due diligence and top-up diligence on pricing issues
Moderator:
Adam Echter, Partner, Simon-Kucher & Partners
Panelists:
John Bailey, Operating Associate, General Atlantic
Amanda Good, Partner and Head of Global Value Creation, Searchlight Capital Partners
Kush Tulsidas, Operating Partner, One Rock Capital Partners
PE partner-CFO dynamics: alignment, expectations, and impact
- Examining the PE sponsor-CFO relationship across three critical dimensions: measuring the business (collecting the data to inform insights), managing the business (reporting, technology infrastructure, KPIs), scaling the business (operational levers to drive accelerated growth)
- Understanding CFO/Partner alignment, or lack thereof, with regard to: the firm-finance dynamic and operating model, expectations for value contribution, key focus areas and objectives
- Measuring operating partner impact and understanding the critical role of technology in achieving operational alpha and accelerating value creation
Moderator:
Nick Leopard, CEO and Founder, Accordion and Co-Founder, Maestro
Panelists:
Karl Bailliez, Senior Operating Executive and Finance Practice Leader, Cerberus Capital Management
Susan Clark, Managing Director, Operations, Sun Capital Partners
Evan Lorch, Operating Partner, Francisco Partners Consulting
John Toriello, Operating Partner, General Atlantic


Karl Bailliez
Senior Operating Executive and Finance Practice Leader, Cerberus Capital Management
Read bio


Networking Break
Interactive Working Group 3 | Deep dive discussion for operating partners only: Putting ESG at the heart of your business strategy in the new sustainable economy
This session will allow the audience to join an interactive roundtable discussion with designated facilitators.
- How does your firm think about ESG, and what specific areas within E, S, and G are covered?
- ESG due diligence best practices
- What is the role of the operating partner in driving ESG initiatives?
- Mapping out and engaging with all key stakeholders on ESG
- How are ESG based KPIs and metrics being used?
- Private equity’s ESG journey: what comes next?
Facilitator:
Donald Reed, Managing Director, Finance Transformation, PwC

Interactive Working Group 4 | Deep dive discussion for operating partners only: Implementing price changes in 2021: Essential steps and countermeasures for your portfolio companies during inflationary times (invitation-only)
This session will allow the audience to join an interactive roundtable discussion with designated facilitators.
- Key steps to offset price inflation: leveraging inflationary times to expand margin
- Price adjustments: deploying multiple tools to create options when input prices fall
- Implementing robust and workable pricing processes and systems
- How to bring reluctant management teams along
- Dealing with sustained price volatility: successful elements to protect margins, drive growth and offset the commercial implications of these effects
Facilitator:
Bhavin Manjee, Partner, Simon-Kucher & Partners
Hosted by:

Interactive Working Group 5 | Deep dive discussion for operating partners only: Working with CEOs: dos and don’ts
This session will allow the audience to join an interactive roundtable discussion with designated facilitators focused on:
- Sharing of lessons learned and do overs
- Setting up productive relationships with CEOs across the deal lifecycle
- Managing tension and helping to bridge alignment
- Helping CEOs operate at full power
Facilitators:
Randy Street, Managing Partner, ghSMART
Claudio Waller, Co-head of Private Equity, ghSMART
Networking lunch
Track 22 | Modernizing your finance function: driving value through evolving capabilities
Join us to discuss how finance functions are transforming to meet the evolving needs of its stakeholders:
- Drive forward-looking insights and improved performance management with advanced data and analytics
- Improve how work gets done through process and controls automation
- Gain efficiency via integrated systems and information
- Implement a cost-effective organization structure and delivery model
- Upskill and evolve people capabilities to be successful in a modern finance environment
- Increase cross-functional collaboration and business partnering
Moderator:
Greg Carlson, Managing Director, Riveron
Panelists:
Steve Cumbow, Operating Partner, Sentinel Capital Partners
John Mavriyannakis, Partner, Growth, Maverix Private Equity
Steven Siwinski, Operating Principal, Accel-KKR
Track 23 | Monitoring and quantifying portfolio performance with data science and analytics
- What new tools are you adopting for portfolio management?
- Looking at best methodologies for portfolio company reporting
- Applying growth KPIs and metrics for operational improvement in different stages
- Using data science to measure the success of a company and drive value creation
- Approaches in utilizing data lakes and big data to drive results
- Value creation team approaches in working with heads of data science
Moderator:
Sunil Senan, Senior Vice President and Business Head, Data and Analytics, Infosys
Panelists:
Jesko Frommeyer, Managing Director, Portfolio Value Creation, Real Assets, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB)
Andy Pickens, Managing Director – Data and Digital Transformation, Apollo Global Management
Richard Spencer, Co-Founder, Chief Operating Officer, Operating Partner, Kamylon Holdings
Track 24 | Creating value through your technology investment
- Showing the value of investment in technology, including finance technology, during a PE ownership cycle
- Building the optimal technology stack
- Highlighting opportunities for future gains through finance technologies for the next owner
- Pragmatic steps to position for exit
Moderator:
Maria Urias, Manager, Strategic Alliances, FloQast
Panelists:
Prashanth Bóccasam, Partner, Cota Capital
Adam Cummins, PMO Lead, Global Investment Resources, The Carlyle Group
Souvick Paul, Vice President, Cerberus Operations and Advisory Company, Cerberus Capital Management
Rosaleen Pizarro, Vice President of Accounting, Controller, Barkbox




Souvick Paul
Vice President, Cerberus Operations and Advisory Company, Cerberus Capital Management
Read bio
Track 25 | Culture and strategy to accelerate growth in the first 100 days
A misaligned culture and unclear strategy are two of the most common portfolio company growth barriers. This session is designed to help investors and operators assess, align, and activate both culture and strategy to ensure momentum in the key 100 days post-close.
- Understanding culture: how do you get the most traction post close in working with executive teams?
- How to align around the investment strategy to accelerate momentum into growth
- Establishing clear roadmaps for the organization and help people understand where the company is headed
- Designing environments that support the new strategy and promote high performance in people
Moderator:
Matt Brubaker, CEO, FMG Leading
Panelists:
Andy Caine, Partner, Human Capital, Frazier Healthcare Partners
Bryan West, Head of Talent, Resurgens Technology Partners
Track 26 | Managing the total cost of risk
Identifying cost drivers and implementing a strategic approach to improve P&C and benefits insurance performance and spend is key. The property/casualty and benefits insurance value streams are opaque by design. This session will explain the traditional model and show how to:
- Leverage risk management controls
- Create underwriting demand
- Achieve best-in-class program structure and pricing
Moderator:
Todd Miller, President and CEO, Risk International
Panelists:
Steve Cumbow, Operating Partner, Sentinel Capital Partners
Tom Stephens, Operating Partner, BV Investment Partners
Jon Weber, Head of Global Portfolio Operations Group, Elliott Investment Management
Track 27 | Value creation in recurring revenue businesses - keys to success
- As we see more and more businesses in software and elsewhere move to a “SaaS” type model, what is the role of the operating partner in driving success?
- How to balance both revenue growth rate and Net Dollar Retention
- The role of pricing in driving growth and NDR
- How does digital commerce contribute to growth rates? Is this visible in data?
- Approaches to measuring and tracking these key performance indicators in portfolio companies
- Experiences – what has worked – what hasn’t
- Repeatable patterns for success
Moderator:
Travis Huch, Vice President Alliances, Private Equity Partners, Zuora
Panelists:
Craig Foos, Executive Vice President, Growth Team, Serent Capital
Alex Mace, Vice President, Thompson Street Capital Partners
Kunal Mehta, Principal, Portfolio Operations, TCV
Giles Whiting, Operating Partner, Verdane





Unlocking the cloud revolution for portfolio value creation
- Create value through cost optimization and product modernization using Cloud
- Leverage the cloud for scalability and reliability
- Increase revenue through strategic cloud partnerships
Moderator:
David Hicks, Vice President, Worldwide ISV Ecosystem Business Development, Oracle
Panelists:
Misha Logvinov, Managing Director and Head of IT Strategy, EQT Partners
Greg Myers, Operating Partner, Cota Capital
Yoav Nathaniel, Senior Cloud Security Architect, Goldman Sachs
Chris Satchell, Operating Principal Technology and Digital, Clayton Dubilier & Rice





Closing remarks and end of conference
Pre-Event Resources
2022 Speakers
For speaking opportunities, contact Marc Mele at marc.m@peimedia.com or call +1 646 581 9295.

Ted Bililies
Managing Director and Chief Talent Officer, AlixPartners

Matt Brubaker
CEO, FMG Leading

Jessica Castillo
Operating Partner, Sovereign's Capital

David Feierstein
Managing Partner, Ronin Equity Partners

Christopher Grillo
Private Equity Vice President, Partners Group

Dan Hawkins
Founder and CEO, Summit Leadership Partners

Bobbi Kommineni
Operating Partner, Terminus Capital Partners

Sachin Korantak
Partner, Conditor Capital

Raj Kushwaha
Managing Director, Co-Head Value Creation and Chief Digital Officer, Warburg Pincus

Jamie Jacobs
Chief Talent Officer, Oak Hill Capital

Andreas Mang
Senior Managing Director, Portfolio Operations, Blackstone

Lee McCabe
Operating Partner, AEA Investors

Sean Mooney
Founder and CEO, BluWave

Jud Morrison
Operating Partner, The Sterling Group

Zaid Nesheiwat
Vice President, Portfolio Operations, ORIX Capital Partners

Ian Paice
Senior Director, Business Acceleration, K1 Operations

Clark Perry
Director, AlixPartners

Jessica Pizzo
Resource Partner, Court Square Capital Partners

Jorge Rosales
Vice President, Growth Team – Pricing Center of Excellence, Serent Capital

Tim Sanders
Vice President, Client Strategy, Upwork

Drew Scielzo
Operating Partner, ACON Investments

Kush Tulsidas
Operating Partner, One Rock Capital Partners

Ken Weaver
Managing Director, TVV Capital

Carsten Weber
Technology Director, The Sterling Group

Cici Zheng
Partner, ParkerGale Capital
2022 Sponsors
PEI’s Annual Operating Partner Forums unite private equity operating partners and value creation experts. This intersection of individuals provides service providers with unique and customized programs to engage in thought provoking content discussions and provides numerous opportunities to connect in one-on-one discussions, roundtable events, and various other networking activities.
To explore how your firm can take a prominent leadership position, contact Lawrence Dvorchik at lawrence.d@peimedia.com or call +1 646 545 4429.
Venue and hotel
Convene
117 West 46th Street
New York, 10036
Kimpton Muse Hotel
130 West 46th Street
New York, 10036
We have reserved a room block at the hotel for all attendees with a discounted rate. To reserve your room at the hotel please use the link above before September 27.
Explore our exclusive operating partner only networking
Operating Partner exclusive networking events are taking place throughout the Forum. The Forum provides operating partners with opportunities each day to network and share thoughts with operating partners. Explore the various interactive working groups, think tanks, breakfast sessions and receptions to discuss emerging topics in value creation and network with your peers.
Featured networking opportunities
Think Tank sessions
The closed-door rooms will allow you to learn and share
best practices of successful operating partners. The
thinks tanks will allow you to submit topics to be covered in looking at best value creation practices and the toughest challenges operating partners face daily.
Women’s networking lunch
This closed-door lunch discussion will explore what it’s like being a woman in PE and VC portfolio operations.
Interactive Working Groups
These exclusive deep dive discussions only available to operating partners allow you to participate in interactive roundtable discussions with designated facilitators.
Breakfast Deep Dive discussion
Join fellow operating partners for a portfolio operations breakfast deep dive discussion (invitation-only).