CEO Through Acquisition UK Q1 2026

Banque Internationale à Luxembourg SA
Overview

Novastone Capital Advisors (NCA) is a global firm headquartered in Switzerland that solves succession challenges faced by small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through our Operator-Led Search Fund program. NCA is seeking motivated mid-career professionals with the ambition to partner with NCA to search, acquire and lead a small or medium-sized enterprise as Chief Executive Officer.

As an NCA Searcher, you will spearhead a up to 24-month professional search to acquire one small-mid-sized company. Within the Operator-Led Search Fund program, you will have access to financial and business support from NCA during the search, as well as an attractive incentive package consisting of base compensation and vested shares in the acquired company to support your entrepreneurial journey. Successful candidates will search, acquire and manage a company in the UK.

Responsibilities

• Establish a search process with the aim of generating sufficient deal flow to find a business to acquire in accordance with pre-defined criteria.
• Manage the acquisition process with the support of the experienced Investment team.
• Step into the CEO role of the newly acquired business.
• Proactively generate and evaluate strategic growth options, develop long-term business strategy, and develop 100-day plans.
• Grow the business top line through impactful marketing and sales initiatives.
• Build a culture that embraces innovation and digital transformation.
• Review product/service offerings, portfolio strategies, existing brand positioning, identify gaps and implement improvements.
• Identify value creation opportunities, design new products/services (NPD), define go-to-market strategy and organize commercial launches.
• Manage geographical expansions when required, including market-entry strategies.
• Ensure profitable growth through operational efficiencies.

Must-have requirements

• 10+ years of professional experience.
• Academic achievement (Executive MBA or MBA preferred).
• Min. 5+ years in leadership roles managing multiple teams across multiple geographies and locations.
• Min. 5+ years of proven track record of running and growing businesses or large business units.
• P&L responsibility.
• Having a strategic vision for a sector or an industry.
• Strong motivation towards entrepreneurship.
• Lived and worked in the UK for the last 10 years.

Nice-to-have requirements

• Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) experience.
• Consulting experience from a top consulting firm.
• Experience managing and operating an SME.
• Owner, Founder or co-Founder of a start-up.
• Experience in global business development, international expansion.
• Recent successful business transformation experience.
• Open mind towards learning, people and even failure.

We offer

Novastone Capital Advisors (NCA) is a global firm headquartered in Switzerland that solves succession challenges faced by SMEs through our Operator-Led Search Fund program. We partner with experienced, mid-career professionals with deep industry experience to locate, acquire, and grow small privately held companies. Our selection process for the program is highly competitive and includes several virtual interviews, case assignments and personality assessments.

Please note that we do not invest in start-ups or scale-ups and the program excludes distressed companies and turnarounds.

If your application qualifies, you will receive our full program description and be invited to complete a one-way video to accompany your profile. You will then proceed through a structured selection process including orientation, interviews and a business case assignment, culminating in a final interview with a managing partner and an assessment center.

Typical selection cycles last 12 to 15 weeks from the start of applications to the final assessment center. We are an Equal Opportunity program and all submitted CVs pass through the same application process regardless of gender, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, race, political affiliation, marital status, disability, age, parental status, or any other non-merit factor.

For more information on the program, please refer to the Candidates section of NCA’s website.