SPMB Executive Search

Congratulations to our client Aven on its Series D investment—led by Khosla Ventures and General Catalyst—elevating the credit solutions company to unicorn status. On behalf of Suzanne Heske and the SPMB Executive Search team, cheers to the next chapter of continued growth! #fintech #consumerfinance #unicorn #executiveleadership https://lnkd.in/esdP4RCx

Cheers to our client Human Interest, a full-service 401(k) and 403(b) provider dedicated to making retirement savings easy and affordable for small & medium-sized businesses, on this week’s news → a new funding round at a remarkable $1.33B valuation! On behalf of Emily Leder, Suzanne Heske, and the SPMB Executive Search team, congratulations on this well-deserved milestone! 👏 https://lnkd.in/gQVswpkJ

SPMB Executive Search is thrilled to congratulate Apur Shah on joining Capital One as Managing Vice President of Emerging Payments. With over 25 years of experience in technology-driven businesses, Apur is a commercially-oriented product leader known for accelerating growth by solving customer problems and building scalable products. He brings a wealth of expertise to Capital One, having most recently been instrumental in growing Venmo into a powerhouse for online and in-person commerce. Join us, and search leader Mike Doonan, in congratulating Apur on his new role at Capital One! #ProductManagement #ProductLeadership #ExecutiveSearch SPMB search team: Olivia Everhard, Fiona Gleeson & Lorin Smedley 👏

Congratulations, Emergence Capital, Kristina Landers, and SPMB Executive Search's Investment practice 👏

On behalf of Kevin Barry and Carleigh Morba, we're excited to extend our congratulations to our client Gladly and CEO Joseph Ansanelli on the appointment of their new President, Charlie Besecker. Under Charlie's leadership, we're eager to witness Gladly's next chapter of growth as they continue to revolutionize customer service. From all of us at SPMB Executive Search, cheers to a fantastic addition to your team! #cxleader #customerexperience #aipowered #executivesearch https://lnkd.in/gW5tavez

The Rise of Chief AI Officers: A New Era in Private Equity AI is shaking up workplaces, driving efficiency, and streamlining decision-making. President Biden’s new policy, appointing chief AI officers (CAIOs) in government agencies, underscores AI's growing importance. These CAIOs will steer AI initiatives, select strategic use cases, and manage their rollout. “Leaders who fail to grasp AI’s impact risk falling behind,” says Cody Crook, managing director at Hunt Scanlon Ventures. The CAIO role, now an essential part of the C-suite, joins titles like chief digital officer and chief innovation officer. The integration of AI in private equity-backed firms is also accelerating, as they seek to stay competitive. “The CAIO’s ability to integrate AI seamlessly into operations leads to significant cross-functional improvements,” explains Natalie Ryan of SPMB Executive Search. Private equity firms are embedding AI into their strategies, not just for tech efficiency but to drive broad business innovation. Ryan notes, “CAIOs are driving innovation across diverse fields, from marketing to human resources, making AI a core business driver.” This proactive approach is essential for maintaining a competitive edge. Hoyoung Pak of AlixPartners underscores the imperative for PE firms to leverage AI effectively. “The winning companies are those applying AI thoughtfully to boost sales, cut costs, and enhance customer satisfaction,” he says. This focus on AI is transforming business operations and shaping future strategies. The rise of the CAIO marks a pivotal shift in how businesses approach AI, with private equity firms leading the charge. As AI becomes indispensable, these visionary leaders are steering companies toward a future where AI and business strategy are tightly interwoven. Here at AlphaWatch, we also see increased interest from PE-backed companies in implementing AI. Are you seeing this trend too? Share your thoughts and experiences!

On behalf of Dave Mullarkey and the entire team at SPMB Executive Search, congratulations to Deepwatch and John DiLullo on this exciting new chapter! 

This was a great episode! CNBC did a great job going over the successes of both Denver and Boulder. Great perspective from our CO Politicians, Jared Polis (Governor) and Mike Johnston (Mayor). I knew aerospace was big, but I didn't realize it has grown 88% over the last two decades, bringing 20k+ jobs to the state. Our client, AgentSync was featured as well and has helped bring over 200+ jobs! Pay close attention to Elevate Quantum across the Rocky Mountain Region "it will make the gold rush look like the tin rush" :D

On behalf of Steven Popper and our Financial Officers Practice, SPMB Executive Search is thrilled to congratulate our client Uber and their new Head of Financial Risk Management — Kim Norton. With a distinguished career spanning global leadership positions at CBRE and Deloitte, Kim brings invaluable expertise in financial strategy and risk management to her new role at Uber. It was a pleasure to partner with you on this search, and cheers to a powerful addition to Uber’s world-class finance team! #FinancialOfficers #FinancialRiskManagement #ExecutiveSearch