President & CEO

President & CEO – Manufacturing CompanyChicago Metro Area | Full-Time | Executive LeadershipPosted by Flying Horse Capital on behalf of a strategic partnerAbout Flying Horse CapitalFlying Horse Capital is a Dallas-based permanent capital firm that acquires and holds lower-middle-market founder- and family-owned businesses. We invest with no exit timeline, partnering with operators to build durable companies that last for generations.About Our PartnerThis search is being conducted on behalf of one of our longtime strategic partners, a firm that shares our philosophy. They invest in U.S.-based founder- and family-owned businesses and operate on a long-term hold model. They don't buy companies to flip them. They buy companies to build them, protect their legacy, and grow them the right way.Our partner has a long-standing track record of success, a disciplined approach to capital, and a deep bench of experience supporting leadership teams through growth.The OpportunityOur partner is seeking a President & CEO to lead one of its manufacturing businesses in the Chicago metro area. The company has an established foundation: loyal customers, a skilled workforce, and a reputation built over years of doing things the right way. The next chapter is about growth.This is an organic growth mandate. The business doesn't need a turnaround artist or a financial engineer. It needs a builder with a sales mentality: a leader who wins customers, opens new markets, and creates a culture where everyone understands their role in growing the business.The right leader will have full authority to run the company, the backing of patient capital, and a meaningful ownership stake in the value they create.What You'll DoStrategy & LeadershipOwn full P&L responsibility and set the strategic direction of the businessDevelop and execute a multi-year growth plan in partnership with ownershipServe as the face of the company to customers, employees, suppliers, and the communityLead capital allocation decisions, including investments in capacity, equipment, technology, and peopleRevenue GrowthDrive organic top-line growth as the company's chief sellerDeepen and expand relationships with existing customers; grow share of walletIdentify and win new customers, verticals, and geographic marketsBuild or rebuild the sales function, including talent, process, pipeline discipline, compensation, and CRMStrengthen pricing strategy and margin managementPersonally lead key customer relationships and strategic pursuitsOperationsEnsure the operational backbone can support growth: capacity, throughput, quality, safety, and on-time deliveryDrive continuous improvement across manufacturing, supply chain, and procurementModernize systems and reporting where needed without losing what makes the business workPeople & CultureBuild, develop, and retain a high-performing leadership teamHonor the culture and legacy of the business while raising the bar on accountability and performanceCreate a workplace where top talent wants to stay and growDevelop a succession bench beneath the leadership teamFinancial StewardshipPartner with finance leadership on budgeting, forecasting, and KPI managementReport performance to ownership with transparency and candorManage working capital and cash flow with disciplineYour First 12–18 MonthsLearn the business deeply: customers, employees, operations, and financialsBuild trust with the team and key customersAssess the leadership team and sales organization; make the necessary talent movesDeliver a clear, ownership-aligned growth strategyEstablish sales process, pipeline visibility, and a cadence of KPIsShow early momentum in new customer wins and revenue growthWhat You BringExperience10+ years of progressive leadership experience, including P&L ownership as a President, CEO, GM, or division headBackground in manufacturing, industrial products, or a related B2B environment strongly preferredA proven track record of driving organic revenue growth, not just managing costsExperience in lower-middle-market, founder-led, family-owned, or privately held businessesExperience building or transforming a sales organizationLeadership QualitiesA seller at heart; you enjoy being in front of customers and closing businessHands-on and low-ego; equally comfortable on the shop floor, in a customer meeting, and in the boardroomA builder's mindset with a long-term orientationStrong financial acumen; you understand how the business makes money and where it can make moreA talent magnet who attracts, develops, and retains strong peopleHigh integrity and genuine respect for the legacy of founder-built businessesClear, direct communicator with ownership, employees, and customersEducation & LocationBachelor's degree required; MBA or equivalent experience a plusBased in the Chicago metro area or willing to relocateCompensation & OwnershipThis role is built for an operator who wants to share in the value they create.Competitive base salaryAnnual performance bonus tied to growth and profitabilityEquity options in the businessCo-investment rights alongside the firm in future investmentsOperating Partner pathway: for the right candidate, an opportunity to grow into a broader Operating Partner role supporting the firm's portfolio and future acquisitionsComprehensive benefits packageWhy This Role Is DifferentMost CEO roles come with a clock: a three-to-five-year hold, a sale process, and a new owner with a new playbook. This one comes with a runway.Permanent capital: no forced exit, no short-term pressure to flipReal authority: you run the company; ownership supports, not micromanagesReal ownership: equity and co-invest rights that let you build personal wealth alongside the firmRoom to grow: a path beyond one company into a broader operating partner roleProven partner: a long-standing track record of building successful businessesIf you want to actually build something, own a piece of it, and be part of a firm with a long history of success, this is the modern path.Hiring ProcessInitial conversation with Flying Horse CapitalInterviews with the partner firm's leadershipSite visit and meetings with the company's team