Lancer Group Recruits CFO for LifeSpeak
March 3, 2026 – La Jolla, CA-headquartered search firm Lancer Group has recruited Matt Smolko as the new CFO of digital wellbeing platform LifeSpeak. “LifeSpeak is entering an exciting new chapter as organizations demand wellbeing solutions that are reliable, flexible, hyper-personalized, and proven to make a difference,” said Jason Campana, CEO of LifeSpeak. “Our newly expanded leadership team strengthens our ability to accelerate commercial growth, enhance operational efficiency, and deepen client partnerships.”
With more than 20 years of corporate finance experience, including over a decade overseeing finance teams at SaaS companies, Mr. Smolko most recently served as CFO of PE-backed SafeSend, where he supported the company’s sale to Thomson Reuters.
In his new role, Mr. Smolko will lead LifeSpeak’s financial and corporate operations, including planning and forecasting, financial reporting, pricing and organizational target setting. He will be responsible for strengthening LifeSpeak’s operational discipline and financial rigor to support sustainable, profitable growth.
LifeSpeak is a provider of digital wellbeing solutions, supporting more than 14 million people across 1,000+ organizations worldwide. The company’s expert-led, AI-powered platform helps individuals navigate their health at every stage—from managing existing challenges to building healthier habits that last.
With relationships at over 50 of the top 100 private equity firms, The Lancer Group provides a range of pre-deal private equity advisory services beyond traditional executive search. These include deal origination, diligence support and introductions to “backable” executives. The firm, which is privately held, operates from offices in Boston, New York, San Diego, San Francisco, and Sydney, Australia.
Scott Dunklee is a founder and managing partner of The Lancer Group. He has been instrumental in the firm’s development since 1998, overseeing over 350 C-suite searches predominantly for private equity-backed software companies. Mr. Dunklee has led The Lancer Group’s focus on software, and personally recruited out of more than 100 industry verticals as well as led the firm’s value creation services effort – linking C-suite executives with actionable deal ideas for the firm’s PE clients. Notably, one of those introductions led to a $200 million equity check “in” and over $800 million back to the PE fund.
The Evolving CFO Role in Private Equity
Navigating a tapestry of challenges, private equity CFOs have undergone a transformative evolution, shifting from being financial overseers to becoming strategic pilots. Their role surpasses the scope of accounting and reporting monthly numbers; they now own and harness data, providing invaluable insights that improve fact-based decision making for the organization at large, according to a recent report from Acertitude’s Scott Carberry. “The emerging PE CFO is a vital linchpin, balancing the financial acumen, operational resilience, and strategic foresight poised to unlock new dimensions of success in an ever-changing landscape,” he said. “Adapting to these evolving circumstances, the responsibilities shouldered by PE CFOs have experienced a notable metamorphosis in contrast to previous years.”
A Look at the High Demand for Top CFOs for Private Equity Firms
In times of volatility, financial stability becomes an understated hallmark of business success. Private equity firms have, appropriately, responded to the severe macroeconomic challenges of recent years with caution, making unprecedented pullbacks in investment and reaching record levels of dry powder, according to a new report from Slayton Search Partners’ Dan Dunn.
“Today’s firms are steadying their balance sheets and preparing for long-term growth by building quality over quantity—a process that will increasingly require proactive CFOs,” he said. “CFOs are key drivers of sustainable value creation for PE firms and their portfolio companies. As portfolio sizes remain limited and the need for exceptionally successful exits grows, the role of the chief financial officer will expand in the coming years. Subsequently, demand for experienced private equity CFOs is certain to rise.”
“Today’s CFO is an adept communicator and collaborator, transcending silos to engage operational leaders, investors, and portfolio company executives to navigate fluid market dynamics, conserve cash, and drive transformation,” Mr. Carberry said. “Most importantly, they enable the ability to drive better and faster decision making, aiding in the execution of the value creation plan.”
In the current landscape, there are heightened market challenges confronting PE CFOs compared to previous years, according to Mr. Carberry. He says that executives grapple not just with survival, but proactively rising from economic inflation to maintain the original investment thesis. “These times demand meticulous attention to minute details and a strategic pivot around new pain points – namely inflation, rising interest rates, and supply chain disruptions,” he said. “Each of these challenges bears its own set of sub-challenges leading to after-effects, and the key areas to focus on during these times include balancing cash management and revenue growth, evaluating headcount, benefits, procurement, and facilities, while also investing in automation.”
Mr. Carberry explains that amidst these dynamics, pace is still paramount. “Even in the face of impending challenges, the deal team continues to expect prompt execution within the business, tasking PE CFOs to augment their strategic maneuvering while managing rapid timelines,” he said.
Related: Financial Services is Booming, CFO Role Continues to Evolve
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
