Nexus Search Partners Recruits CFO for Team Air
March 27, 2026 – Nexus Search Partners, an executive search and advisory firm in Charlotte, NC, recently helped to recruit Jonathan Williams as the new CFO of Team Air, an HVAC distribution platform backed by Kian Capital. “Please join us in welcoming Jonathan Williams to the team,” Team Air said in a LinkedIn post. “A decade of CFO experience, scaling massive teams and revenue, and bringing unmatched excitement to our leadership group. We’re excited to welcome him to the Team Air family.”
Team Air engaged Nexus as its retained executive search partner to identify a CFO who could bring both strategic leadership and operational rigor to support the company’s next phase of growth. Mr. Williams emerged as the clear choice, bringing more than 20 years of senior financial leadership experience across distribution, manufacturing, and complex, multi-site organizations, including private equity-backed environments.
Mr. Williams joins Team Air from Premium Guard, where he served as CFO and played a critical role in building a scalable finance function, strengthening performance transparency, and partnering closely with investors on value creation initiatives. His prior experience includes executive finance leadership roles at Bridgestone Americas, Nissan North America, and Ford Motor Company, where he led large teams, oversaw ERP and systems transformations, and supported M&A, divestitures, and long-range strategic planning.
As CFO, Mr. Williams will oversee all financial operations, serve as a strategic thought partner to the executive leadership team, and help position Team Air for continued scale and long-term value creation.
Team Air Distributing is a privately held wholesale distribution company based in Nashville, TN, that operates in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) industry. Founded in 1990, the company supplies HVAC equipment, parts, and related products—such as air conditioners, heat pumps, furnaces, and system components—to residential and commercial contractors.
Nexus Search Partners was launched in 2022. The firm’s executive search process is built on four comprehensive pillars: in-depth cultural assessments, transparency and accountability, diverse candidate slates, and SVP+ executive coaching. Nexus Search Partners places cross-functional executives in consumer products and services, energy, financial and professional services, life sciences, private equity, and technology.
Related: CFOs as Strategic Architects: Navigating Transformation in Financial Services
Mr. Jones has spent nearly two decades leading human resources talent management teams for some of the world’s largest companies, including Amazon, Lowe’s Home Improvement, and Target. He most recently served as executive vice president and chief talent officer for Red Ventures, a multibillion-dollar operating private equity company with more than 21 companies in its portfolio. Red Ventures is also one of the largest digital media companies in the U.S.
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
