Executive Search Firm Brief (The Rosen Group / JWM Group)
Chief Financial Officer
Weber Blackstone
Location: Palatine, IL (dual presence in Logan, UT and global markets)
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Ownership: BDT & MSD Partners
Industry: Global | Manufacturing & Consumer Products
Company Overview
Weber Blackstone is a newly combined global outdoor cooking platform formed through the merger of Weber—an iconic global leader in traditional grills—and Blackstone—the category-defining leader in outdoor griddles.
The organization operates across 40+ countries with manufacturing, sourcing, and distribution spanning the U.S., Poland, and Southeast Asia. Backed by BDT & MSD Partners, the company is focused on margin expansion, global growth, operational excellence, and long-term value creation.
The two brands maintain distinct identities while leveraging shared scale in supply chain, innovation, and commercial capabilities.
BDT & MSD Partners Overview
BDT & MSD Partners is a merchant bank with an advisory and investment platform built to serve the distinct needs of business owners and strategic, long-term investors. The firm is distinguished by its decades of experience advising at the intersection of founders, families, and businesses, as well as by its differentiated capital base and culture of aligned investing. BDT & MSD was established in 2023 through the combination of BDT & Company, the merchant bank to the closely held, founded in 2009 by Byron Trott, and MSD Partners, a premier investment firm, led by Gregg Lemkau, that since 2009 invested on behalf of Dell Technologies Founder Michael Dell, his family, and other like-minded investors. Its funds are managed by its affiliated investment advisers.
Role Overview
The Chief Financial Officer will serve as the enterprise financial leader and strategic partner to the CEO and Board, responsible for driving disciplined growth, capital strategy, integration execution, and operational performance across a $4–5B global organization.
This is not solely a traditional controllership role. The mandate includes:
- Enterprise-wide financial strategy
- Capital allocation and financing strategy
- M&A evaluation and integration
- Operational margin expansion
- Working capital optimization
- Governance and risk management
- Building a high-performing global finance organization
The CFO will play a central role in shaping the financial architecture of the combined company while supporting continued brand differentiation and growth.
Strategic Mandate (First 24–36 Months)
Ideal candidates will be capable of delivering the following:
1. Financial Integration & Alignment
- Harmonize financial processes, reporting, and controls across legacy Weber and Blackstone operations.
- Strengthen enterprise-level visibility into performance drivers.
- Standardize reporting cadence and KPI frameworks across regions.
2. Margin & Cash Optimization
- Drive gross margin expansion through sourcing, tariff mitigation, and cost discipline.
- Improve working capital efficiency.
- Enhance forecasting accuracy and operational analytics.
3. Capital Strategy & Ownership Partnership
- Partner with BDT & MSD and the Board on capital structure optimization.
- Lead refinancing, liquidity planning, and long-range capital allocation strategy.
- Provide sophisticated modeling and scenario planning capabilities.
4. M&A & Strategic Growth
- Lead financial diligence, valuation modeling, and integration of potential acquisitions.
- Support evaluation of partnerships, alliances, and strategic investments.
5. Enterprise Risk & Governance
- Strengthen internal control environment and enterprise risk management.
- Ensure global regulatory compliance (GAAP, tax, international reporting requirements).
- Maintain disciplined financial stewardship.
6. Talent & Organizational Excellence
- Assess and upgrade the finance organization where needed.
- Develop a global bench of finance leadership talent.
- Build a culture of accountability, precision, and business partnership.
Scope of Responsibility
The CFO will oversee:
- Global Accounting & Controllership
- FP&A & Strategic Finance
- Treasury & Capital Markets
- Tax (Domestic & International)
- Internal Controls & Risk Management
- Financial Systems & Reporting
- Supply Chain & Operations Finance
The role is enterprise-wide and highly visible, requiring frequent engagement with executive leadership, operations, commercial teams, ownership, and external partners.
Required Experience
- 15–20+ years of progressive finance leadership
- 5+ years as CFO or divisional CFO within a $2B+ global organization
- Experience in manufacturing and/or consumer products
- Strong background in capital structure, treasury, and financing
- Demonstrated M&A and post-merger integration leadership
- Experience operating in a private equity–backed or sponsor-influenced environment preferred
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance required
- MBA and/or CPA strongly preferred
Leadership Characteristics
The ideal candidate will demonstrate:
- Strategic enterprise mindset with operational rigor
- Ability to balance growth investment with cost discipline
- Strong executive presence and board-level communication skills
- High integrity and governance orientation
- Data-driven, metrics-oriented leadership style
- Comfort operating in a fast-paced, change-oriented environment
- Hands-on leadership approach when necessary
This leader must be equally comfortable in the Board room, on the manufacturing floor, and partnering with commercial leaders.
What Makes This Opportunity Compelling
- Enterprise CFO role of a globally recognized, category-leading platform
- Opportunity to shape the financial integration of two iconic brands
- Backed by sophisticated ownership with long-term value orientation
- Meaningful influence overgrowth, capital strategy, and enterprise performance
- Strong equity participation and value creation potential
