Question
I'm running a $10MM/year (and profitable) direct response company with 18 permanent employees and another 10-20 freelancers. We're based in Eastern Europe and selling to the USA. My core strengths are in marketing and innovation, not in management, planning, organizing. What should we be aware of when trying to bring a CEO to help us grow? Pitfalls? Mistakes we're bound to make? It's our first attempt at this. Thank you!
Answer
Hire complementary strengths and an agency executive who's grown an account from $10 MM to $50 MM or $100 MM. Someone with very strong agency/network relationships who can bring in talent and resources. You need to really get along and stress-test the relationship. There are many risks including taking someone who will take your accounts with him/her if she leaves.