Specialist search for Chief Product and Chief Technology Officers who can turn technology into a competitive advantage and build the product capability that underpins long-term enterprise value.
CPO & CTO Executive Search for PE-Backed Businesses
Technology leadership as a value creation lever
Private equity sponsors increasingly recognise that technology and product leadership are not just operational necessities; they are value creation levers. Whether a business is a pure-play SaaS company, a technology-enabled services firm or a traditional business undergoing digital transformation, the CPO and CTO sit at the heart of how that value is built and communicated.
Finding the right technology leader in a PE-backed context is genuinely difficult. The role demands a rare combination: deep technical credibility, strong commercial instinct, the ability to communicate clearly with a non-technical board, and the pace and decisiveness that PE ownership demands. Leaders who have only operated in large corporates or early-stage startups often struggle with the specific pressures of a mid-market, sponsor-backed environment.
HMN Capital specialises in finding CPOs and CTOs who are as comfortable presenting to a PE board as they are setting technical architecture, executives who understand that in a PE-backed business, technology must deliver both performance and value.
Tech-enabled
businesses command premium multiples, the right CPO or CTO makes the technology story credible to acquirers
Product
differentiation is one of the most durable sources of competitive advantage, and one of the hardest to rebuild quickly if lost
Dual role
CPOs and CTOs must lead their functions while translating technology strategy into language that resonates with commercial and financial stakeholders
What great looks like in a PE-backed CPO or CTO
Commercially grounded
The best CPOs and CTOs in PE-backed businesses understand that technology investment must be justified commercially. They prioritise ruthlessly, communicate the business case for technical decisions clearly and keep product and engineering strategy tightly aligned to the investment thesis and growth plan.
Builder and moderniser
PE-backed technology leaders are often hired to build where nothing exists, modernise what has become a constraint, or accelerate a roadmap that has stalled. The executives who thrive in these environments have clear evidence of delivery; they have shipped products, migrated platforms and scaled engineering teams under real commercial pressure.
Exit-narrative contributor
Acquirers scrutinise technology closely. A CPO or CTO who can articulate the product roadmap, explain the scalability of the architecture and demonstrate the defensibility of the technology position adds material value to a sale process, and can be the difference between a standard and a premium exit multiple.
When sponsors and portfolio companies engage us
CPO and CTO mandates vary considerably depending on the nature of the business and where it is in its technology journey. We tailor every search to the specific challenge and the specific type of technology leadership required.
Digital transformation mandate
A traditional business is being repositioned as a technology-enabled or data-driven operation. The sponsor needs a CTO or CPO who can lead that transformation, modernising the technology stack, building the right team and managing the transition without disrupting the core business that funds it.
First institutional technology leader
A scale-up or founder-led business has relied on its founding technical team. Under PE ownership it now needs a CPO or CTO who can professionalise the function, building engineering discipline, a scalable architecture and a product organisation capable of supporting the next phase of growth.
Product acceleration
The product roadmap is behind schedule and the board needs a CPO who can instil pace and focus, prioritising the features and capabilities that drive revenue and retention, building a high-performing product team and creating a delivery culture that can match the ambitions of the investment thesis.
Pre-exit technology credibility
Ahead of a sale process, the sponsor wants a CPO or CTO who can present the technology position compellingly, demonstrating product-market fit, architectural scalability and a defensible technology roadmap. The right hire materially strengthens both the due diligence process and the exit narrative.
AI and data capability build
Sponsors increasingly want portfolio companies that can demonstrate credible AI and data strategies. We identify CPOs and CTOs who can build genuine capability in this area, not just a slide deck, and who understand how to position it as a sustainable competitive advantage rather than a marketing message.
Our approach to CPO and CTO search
1
Technology brief
We invest time understanding the technology landscape, the current stack, the product maturity, the engineering team capability and the specific mandate before beginning the search. We do not conflate CPO and CTO mandates; they require different profiles.
2
Specialist network
We draw on a network of technology leaders with specific PE-backed experience across B2B SaaS, marketplace, fintech, healthtech and technology-enabled services businesses across the UK and Europe.
3
Dual-lens assessment
We assess candidates on both technical credibility and commercial acumen, the combination that separates excellent technology leaders from those who will struggle to operate effectively in a PE-backed environment.
4
Long-term engagement
Technology landscapes evolve quickly. We remain engaged with both sponsor and CPO or CTO after placement, providing market intelligence, talent insight and a trusted sounding board as the technology strategy develops through the hold period.
Discuss your CPO or CTO mandate with HMN Capital
Whether you are planning a technology leadership search or want a candid view of the CPO and CTO market, we are ready to advise. We work with sponsors and portfolio companies across the UK, Europe and the Middle East.