Salt Creek Capital is seeking a CEO and business partner to lead a portfolio company, a leading value-added distributor of critical communications networking components. The successful candidate will work with the current management team and Salt Creek Capital to pursue a long-term growth strategy. The position requirements include growing the customer base, retaining, recruiting and hiring a strong team, providing operational management, developing the growth strategy and managing a full P&L.
The Company provides a variety of optical transceivers, which are components of networking systems such as switches and routers, manufactured by companies such as Cisco, Juniper, Arista, Ciena, Nokia, Ericsson, HP, Calix, and Dell. The Company is primarily a stocking distributor for non-OEM components sold both just-in-time and for large network upgrade projects. The Company sells both standard and custom solutions and ensures that each optical transceiver is configured specifically for an end-user’s network requirements. The Company also sells state-of-the-art 100G and 400G optics and related optical transport equipment needed for expanding broadband access directly to tier 2 and tier 3 service providers as well as through specially trained value-added resellers. With over 20 years of experience, the Company is a leader in its field and is poised to continue growing under new executive leadership.
The successful candidate shall serve as the most senior business executive at the Company and shall report to and participate on the Company’s board of directors. As CEO, the candidate shall also be required to invest a personally meaningful amount in the Company (e.g., $100,000+) and shall earn additional incentive equity-based ownership compensation.
Key areas of responsibility include:
- Work with Salt Creek Capital and the Board of Directors to develop a 3-5 year strategic plan that follows best practices of value creation
- Actively engage in sales, operations, finance, supplier relations, team recruiting & development, and other functional aspects of the company's management team
- Lead efforts to expand the Company’s existing network of customers through effective business development and marketing strategies
- Foster continuing relationships with key customers and ensure high levels of customer service to maintain retention of current customers
- Deliver strong financial performance and timely reports to the Board of Directors; oversee all company financial management and operating metrics
Qualifications:
- Desire to participate as a business partner and ability to balance fiduciary responsibilities to numerous disparate stakeholders
- Prior successful P&L management and/or CEO experience in an information technology-based business required. Experience in computer networking is highly desired.
- Entrepreneurial thinker with an appetite to take on a high level of responsibility commensurate with anticipated rewards
- Demonstrated experience in the business services sector and customer focused business model
- Proven ability to manage all aspects of a company
- Demonstrated ability to increase profitability through proactive business development efforts
- At least 10 years of senior management experience
- Excellent professional references and high integrity
- Strong personal credit and financial resources
Compensation:
This is a partnership role and not a standard employment opportunity. The successful candidate will value the substantial equity upside of the investment and equity compensation commensurate with the responsibilities and risk associated with this opportunity. Meaningful equity grants shall be vested by the candidate should the candidate take on certain financing risk, which shall be discussed with the candidate during the interview process. Base salary plus health benefits.
Selection Process:
Interested candidates are invited to submit resumes and cover letters to Salt Creek Capital. Candidates with appropriate backgrounds shall be asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement. Selected candidates will then be invited to proceed to phone and in-person discussions.
