Acertitude Assists Sterling Site Access Solutions with CEO Search
October 25, 2024 – Executive search firm Acertitude recently assisted in the recruitment of Kaye Ceille as the new CEO of Sterling Site Access Solutions in Chicago. Kevin O’Neill, co-founder, managing partner, and leader of the industrial practice at Acertitude, led the search together with Max Stubenvoll, principal overseeing business services in North America. “In our search for CEO, we looked for someone who could embrace Sterling’s mission, build and maintain strong teams, and enable our employees to prosper and achieve their career goals,” said George Judd, chairman of Sterling’s board of directors. “Kaye embodied all of these qualities, and we look forward to the wealth of experience she will bring to the company.”
Ms. Ceille brings a strong track record of growing both companies and divisions within companies in American, European, and Australian markets. Her varied experience includes formulating and executing long-term strategic plans, leveraging technology to enhance operations and improve customer experiences, as well as overseeing M&A activity and post-merger integrations.
Ms. Ceille joins Sterling from Montway Auto Transport, where she previously served as president of the company’s business solutions group. Prior to that, she served in a number of executive leadership roles for Avis Budget Group, including as senior vice president of operations and managing director of the Australia-New Zealand and U.K. markets, respectively. Ms. Ceille was also tapped to serve as president of Zipcar after it was acquired by Avis Budget, charged with leading the company into its next phase of growth. She currently serves on the board of directors of Ignite, a Chicago-based non-profit that supports youth who are experiencing homelessness. Ms. Ceille also previously served on the national board of directors for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
With an extensive background in large scale, multi-unit operations, and mid-stage growth businesses, Ms. Ceille will focus on accelerating Sterling’s expansion and profitability. “I am honored to join a company with such a successful history that has risen to become a leader in its industry,” said Ms. Ceille. “Sterling’s focus on innovation, sustainability, professional development, and customer service has positioned us for long-term success, and this next chapter will doubtless bring even more exciting things for the company.”
Sterling is a leading North American site access provider offering innovative and sustainable site access solutions, including a full line of ground protection products, site planning & design, site preparation, mat installation & removal, and final site restoration. Sterling serves a blue-chip customer base, including asset owners and contractors in the power transmission & distribution, civil infrastructure, and energy end markets, helping them mitigate project risk, ensure worker safety, and protect the environment.
Related: Acertitude Fills Senior AI Position for DXC Technology
Sterling is a Blue Wolf Capital Partners portfolio company since 2023. “Sterling is a great fit for Blue Wolf’s portfolio,” said James Shovlin, principal at Blue Wolf Capital. “Through our industrial sector expertise, we have a deep understanding of Sterling’s supply chain and end markets. We see a significant opportunity to collaborate with Carter and the Sterling leadership team to drive value creation through commercial and operational enhancements.”
Experienced Search Consultants
Founded in 2015, Acertitude specializes in recruiting CEO, C-suite, and executive talent in the consumer, financial, healthcare and life sciences, industrial, private equity, professional services, and technology sectors. Its consultants work from offices in Boston; Dallas; Miami; London; New York; Philadelphia; Providence, RI; Raleigh, NC; Shanghai; and Washington, D.C. Acertitude’s global professional services practice recruits leadership talent for technology services, strategy and management consulting, turnaround and restructuring, M&A and deal advisory, business process outsourcing, and human capital advisory firms.
A Look at Key Trends in Executive Recruiting for Private Equity-Backed Companies
A long-awaited interest rate cut in the U.S. finally arrived in September. Bespoke Partners’ Second Half 2024 Private Equity Talent Report asks will it thaw the deep freeze gripping private equity deal-flow and exits? Signs were that prospective deals in late Q2 and early Q3 had already priced in the expected rate cut and deals were indeed picking up. PitchBook reports that first-half middle-market deal flow across all types of private equity deals was up 10 percent year-over-year.
Will the flood gates for deal-flow and exits open? “Massive amounts of dry powder is waiting to be put to work,” the Bespoke Partners’ report said. “Portfolios that have swelled with more companies than usual. Limited partners are clamoring for distributions. Still, challenges persist.” What will the remainder of 2024 and 2025 hold in store? Will the slow return to deal-flow continue or be nipped in the bud by resurgent market headwinds? As Bespoke noted in an earlier edition of this report, the only certainty is uncertainty.
With more than 25 years’ experience in global talent consulting, Mr. O’Neill has conducted over 2,000 searches for notable companies and private equity firms globally. He leads the firm’s global consumer and industrial practices, and co-leads the firm’s global private equity practice. Acertitude’s growth builds on Mr. O’Neill’s leadership of O’Neill Consulting, an Acertitude company specialized in management search, which he founded in 1996.
Mr. Stubenvoll is a principal in the consumer and industrial practices at Acertitude. Based in New York, he is involved in search projects for board members, chief executive officers, financial officers, and senior leaders of private equity-backed businesses. His wide range of expertise spans executive search, pre-deal advisory, and strategy consulting across multiple relevant sectors and industries. Before joining Acertitude, Mr. Stubenvoll helped a range of private equity investors with pre-deal search and transaction support assignments as a senior associate on the consumer & business services team at Skillcapital.
Related: Acertitude Recruits CEO for United Site Services
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
