Reston, Virginia, United States
Peter van Niekerk has led two private equity portfolio companies through successful exits. His career has included several CEO roles and draws on a core skillset in competitive strategy and a focus on building strong teams and winning organizational cultures. He has extensive international leadership experience across the US, Europe & the UK, Asia and Africa, in both large corporates and small, entrepreneurial PE-held companies.
Working with the team at Huron Capital Partners on an exciting buy-and-build in Commercial HVAC, plumbing and mechanical services.
Increased the equity value of the company more than six-fold during my run as CEO. Provided a clear purpose & values that anchored a strong culture. Built a strong & engaged leadership team. Developed and executed a winning platform strategy that added value to all business units and several acquisitions. Drove organic growth and margin expansion through operating disciplines and a very effective sales playbook and marketing processes. Led a highly successful exit process and transitioned to new owner. Delivered as an executive team working in close partnership with Align Capital.
Sunlesss Inc. is the worldwide leader in spray tanning in both equipment and solution manufacture & marketing. Turned around a troubled business, grew sales aggressively, and consolidated the industry through acquisition, establishing a dominant position. Led a successful sale of Sunless and exit from The Riverside Company portfolio in August 2019. Left the company at end 2019 with record profitability and its best growth momentum in 8 years, unsurpassed levels of customer service & quality, and a strong organizational culture.
Member of gategroup Executive Management Board. Delivered a major restructuring as president of this $1.3 billion, 8,000 employee division, successfully countering industry weakness and structural change.
Fundamentally reconfigured the core business, pruned the portfolio and integrated several acquisitions, driving a substantial improvement in EBITDA and competitiveness.
Improved cost positions, synergy and decision-making processes across the APAC portfolio -- Australia, Japan, China, India, Pakistan, Philippines and Hong Kong, and made a major acquisition in Australia.
Led client teams as interim exec on highly quantifiable profit improvement, turnaround and integration assignments from development to full implementation.