Value Creation Trailblazers: The Interviews

Forget portfolio-wide frameworks or rigid playbooks. For Victor Vadaneaux, Interim CEO, real value creation is done one company at a time, through listening, adapting, and aligning deeply with management.

In this exclusive interview, Victor shares why the first 100 days are for verifying (not clinging to) the investment thesis, why post-deal leadership assessments are critical, and why you’ve already lost if management doesn’t embrace the Ops team willingly.

Download to learn more about:

• Why “portfolio-wide” playbooks often leave money on the table
• How to identify real post-deal leadership capability and gaps
• Why humility and realism are the foundations of a “bulletproof” strategy

This is a playbook for operators who know there is no playbook, and who believe in humility, bold adjustments, and alignment over force.

In a candid conversation, François Candelon, Partner Value Creation at Seven2, shares how his 30 years at BCG shaped a systematic yet customised approach to value creation. He explains why the fundamentals are non-negotiable, how aligning early on the “exit animal” transforms outcomes, and why AI will define winners and losers in private equity over the next decade. For operating partners, deal teams, and portfolio executives, this interview offers a clear roadmap for balancing structure with speed and ambition with execution.

For operating partners, deal teams, and portfolio executives, this interview offers a clear roadmap for balancing structure with speed and ambition with execution.

Download to Learn:

• How to lock in strategic alignment in the first 100 days to accelerate value creation
• Why AI should focus on “hunting elephants” (transformational opportunities) rather than scattered use cases
• How governance, leadership, and rapid response systems act as a portfolio’s life insurance policy

For deal teams and operating partners, his message is clear: value creation today is about speed, scale, and boldness.

What does it Really Take to Create Value in Today’s Private Equity Environment?

Forget the generic playbooks. In a world of rising capital costs, prolonged holding periods, and organisational overload, Matteo Siani, Operating Partner at Three Hills Capital Partners, shares what actually moves the needle when it comes to private equity value creation.

In this insight-packed interview, Matteo reveals how his team is rethinking everything, from due diligence to AI, talent strategy to operating model design, to drive real, durable outcomes across the portfolio.

Download to learn more about:

• The First 100 Days: What PE Gets Wrong and How to Fix It: Discover why the real risk isn’t in the strategy, it’s in the org chart. Learn how early leadership assessments and structural realignment can make or break long-term value.
• AI, Finally Delivering: Move beyond buzzwords. Get practical, high-impact examples of how AI is driving tangible results, from finance automation to sales enablement and pricing optimisation.
• Building the Right Team (and Avoiding the Wrong One): Learn how Three Hills is structuring its value creation team for flexibility and scale, and why your model should depend on fund size, strategy, and execution risk.

Whether you’re rethinking your first 100 days or rebuilding your operating model, this interview is essential reading.

In a market defined by volatility and complexity, Private Equity firms must rethink traditional value creation levers. This exclusive interview with Jake Breen, Chief Transformation Officer at Theramex, explores how forward-thinking PE leaders are redefining transformation strategies across portfolio companies.

Download to learn more about:

• What most funds miss in the first 100 days of ownership—and how to avoid those pitfalls
• How to build a balanced, agile, and accountable value creation team—from internal talent to consultants
• What makes a value creation strategy resilient in today’s economic and geopolitical uncertainty

This is your opportunity to tap into the transformation strategy of a seasoned C-suite leader driving sustainable growth in one of Europe’s leading health platforms. This interview is a must-read for any value creation leader looking to sharpen their playbook ahead of the Value Creation for Private Equity 2025 conference.

What happens when your hold period stretches, the big transformation budget is gone, and the value creation plan (VCP) no longer matches the moment?

In this exclusive interview, Peter Bancroft, Chief Transformation Officer, Rubix, unpacks how he’s navigating prolonged ownership cycles, embedding tech-enabled behavioural change, and ensuring that talent, not just strategy, delivers results.

Download the interview to learn more about:

• How to avoid “brittle” value creation plans by embedding real-time feedback loops that keep your strategy aligned with internal and market shifts
• Why overlooking the wider leadership team—beyond the C-suite—is one of the most common mistakes in the first 100 days of ownership
• How AI is evolving from analytics to coaching, with new tools helping managers drive behavioural change at scale across sales and operations

Whether you're an operating partner or portfolio exec, Bancroft offers the sharp, real-world insight needed to drive results in today’s high-pressure environment.

In today’s high-cost, high-pressure private equity environment, traditional value creation strategies are no longer enough. Financial engineering alone won’t cut it. To build resilient, high-performing portfolio companies, GPs must now lead with operational precision, commercial clarity, and cultural strength.

In this exclusive interview, Victor Răcariu, Operating Partner at Mozaik Investments, shares a bold and refreshingly practical perspective on what it takes to create real, lasting value in today’s market. From the critical first 100 days of ownership to the underutilised power of team design and leadership culture, Victor offers a masterclass in modern value creation.

Whether you're an operating partner, portfolio executive, or transformation leader, this is essential reading for anyone serious about driving performance and resilience in uncertain times.