Active Presence: How to prepare for your first role as a PE chair

To make a success of your first chairmanship in a PE-backed business, chemistry with the CEO is important – but, according to serial PE chairman, Steve Richards, it isn’t everything. As a biochemistry graduate, currently chairing two PE-backed businesses, he should know. Criticaleye interviews Steve for his advice to those tackling their first PE chairmanship, which includes assessing whether you are ready to move from being a hands-on executive to a more advisory non-executive, the difference between chairing a PE and a plc board and some key advice for managing the relationship with the CEO.

This article features commentary from:

John Lovering, Chairman, Echelon Partners
Mike McTighe, Chairman, Pace and JJB Sports plc
John Cole, Chairman, Motorclean Group and Criticaleye Associate
David Soskin, Chairman, Mysupermarket.co.uk and co-founder of Howzat Media LLP
John Allbrook, Executive Chairman, Syscap Ltd
Vanda Murray, Former Chairman, Eazyfone Group Ltd and NED, Carillion plc