Beyond the CV: Rethinking CFO Search in Private Equity

In this episode of the Leadership Quotient Podcast, Neil French, Co-Founder & Director at STOIX, shares why the executive search industry needs a more iconoclastic, evidence-driven approach—especially in private equity. Drawing on his unconventional path from aspiring musician to finance recruiter through the 2008 crash, Neil explains how that “challenger” mindset shaped Stoics and why the traditional black-book model still holds back outcomes. He and Lindsay unpack what makes PE roles so attractive to CFOs—finite goals, transformation mandates, and wealth creation—while also acknowledging the reality: these are some of the hardest jobs in business, often with longer hold periods and shifting leadership needs across stages. Neil outlines why many processes still overvalue confidence and prior PE experience, and how that bias can crowd out high-potential, left-field candidates who outperform once given the shot. They also discuss the modern CFO profile—cross-functional influence, calm under pressure, comfort in ambiguity, and learning agility—as well as the importance of aligning stakeholders early, building a realistic scorecard, and evaluating CFO fit in the context of the broader leadership team.