Acertitude Recruits CEO for Tideshift Capital Group-Backed Libera
March 5, 2025 – Acertitude has placed Michael Wons as the new CEO of Tideshift Capital Group-backed Libera, Inc. in Jamestown, NY. The search was led by co-founder and managing partner, Rick DeRose and partner, Scott Jacobs. “Mike’s capabilities and past leadership success in leveraging product innovation and developing high-performing sales teams at scale for private, public and not-for-profit enterprise companies aligns well with our investment thesis, and we believe his leadership will propel the company to new heights in its core and adjacent markets,” said Himanshu Gandhi, co-founder and managing partner at Tideshift Capital Group. “We look forward to partnering with Mike and the rest of the team to support Libera in delivering new products and increased value to customers as it enhances its next-gen SaaS platform with AI and data-driven analytics. We can’t wait to see what Mike will achieve at Libera.”
Bringing more than 25 years of deep GovTech industry knowledge and scaling software businesses through product-led growth, Mr. Wons joins Libera from GovTech Strategy Advisors, where he served as managing partner and COO/CFO/CAO for PE-backed GovTech businesses. His wealth of experience in GovTech includes previous positions as CTO for the State of Illinois, as well as serving in president and C-level roles for multiple GovTech – 100 leading companies. His contributions, paired with an empathic approach to leadership and customer relationships, have led to consistently delivering sustainable double-digit recurring revenue growth year-over-year for the past 10 years.
In his new role, Mr. Wons will lead Libera in the next stage of growth and its mission to empower government agencies to manage cases and improve participant impact with data-driven insights and seamless federal reporting and compliance. Among his top priorities will be accelerating growth through Libera’s innovation in its core platform and the development of AI and data intelligence capabilities. Additionally, he is committed to building on the company’s customer-centric culture with one focus in mind, helping make the complexity of government agencies simple, modern, and secure for its constituents and improving the lives of the individuals and communities they serve.
“I’m excited to work with Libera’s leadership team, employees, Tideshift, and our valued customers to drive future growth,” said Mr. Wons. “Libera is at the intersection of industry leading vocational rehabilitation and case management capabilities for government agencies providing important needed services for citizens. Libera’s modern, cloud native horizontal platform offering, along with its portfolio of vertically specific configurable case management solutions, is sorely needed in the government technology space and what agencies and departments are looking for to help solve complex processes and federal reporting requirements.”
Libera is a leader in Case Management Solutions software platform for Government Agencies that serve citizens in need, with a specific focus on WIOA programs, and adjacent public and private markets. Libera’s next generation SaaS platform is the only out-of-the-box, market-driven SaaS solution in its segment.
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Headquartered in Boston, Tideshift Capital Group is a private investment firm that has been purpose-built to acquire data-rich, growth-focused vertical software and tech-enabled services businesses in the lower-middle market. With a sector-focused approach, the firm targets attractive investment opportunities in North America through buyouts, corporate carve-outs, and majority equity positions in companies in transition.
Proven 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.
Acertitude Recruits CFO for Momentum Manufacturing Group
Acertitude has assisted in the recruitment of Sven Doerge as the new CFO of Momentum Manufacturing Group, a One Equity Partners portfolio company. The search was led by co-founder and managing partner, Kevin O’Neill, and principal, Dan Staats. Mr. Doerge is an experienced CFO and business leader with over 20 years of achievement driving growth, efficiency, and profitability on an international scale for industrial manufacturing companies. His background includes financial leadership roles for private equity owned companies as well as Privately-owned companies ranging from $100 million to $800 million in sales. Mr. Doerge formerly served as CFO at Hyperion Solutions, a private equity-owned manufacturer of elevator components. He also served as CFO at Innovative Chemical Products, a private equity-owned manufacturer of coatings and adhesives. Before that, Mr. Doerge was CFO at Goss International, a private equity-owned manufacturer of printing presses.
Mr. DeRose advises leaders of technology and private equity firms on board and leadership selection, often consulting on how influential trends in digital, mobility, cloud, big data, security and the customer experience are redefining the skills and expertise needed at work. He has a strong history of recruiting sales, marketing and strategy talent for businesses that are growing rapidly and driving transformative change. He has proven expertise in telecommunications, technology, private equity and professional services.
Mr. Jacobs is a partner with the technology practice at Acertitude, where he leads senior-level searches and company-wide assessment projects all over the world for clients who seek rapid performance. He is highly specialized in serving the private equity community along with public and private enterprises across the software and infrastructure sectors. Mr. Jacobs most recently was a senior partner for 15 years with Heidrick & Struggles.
Related: Acertitude Places New Leader for SLV Lighting Group in Germany
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; and Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
