The Future of Board Recruitment: From Governance to Value Creation

McKinsey recently made the case that public-company boards could thrive by adopting private equity practices. Strip away the frameworks and recommendations, and much of their advice boils down to one thing: the type of leadership sitting at the table.

Public boards tend to recruit for credentials. Former CEOs, well-known names, reputational capital, and a range of expertise—all in the name of reducing risk. But in private equity, the model is different. Boards are built with operators. The companies that we work with prioritize leaders who have rolled up their sleeves, implemented impressive growth and scale, driven transformations, and, most importantly, understand what it means to move with urgency.

They bring a leadership style that prizes candor, speed, and ownership. Every board director is expected to act as a steward of value creation, not just a steward of reputation.

That’s why the board advisor model has become so important in high-growth companies. Growth today is rarely linear. Companies need guidance that’s more than ceremonial. They need advisors who can lean into the details, challenge assumptions, and connect strategy to execution. An effective advisor brings lived operating experience and the confidence to push for faster, sharper decision-making.

For PE-backed growth companies especially, board recruitment isn’t about filling seats; it’s about bringing in the right mix of leadership talent that can unlock the next phase of growth. The right advisors don’t just guide from the sidelines; they become catalysts for value creation.

And that’s the real lesson for companies everywhere: governance alone doesn’t create value. Leadership does. The future belongs to boards that function as operating partners—and to firms willing to recruit directors and advisors who know how to build, not just preserve.

About Brett Williams

Brett is a Partner at The Lancer Group with more than two decades of experience as a world-class headhunter. He is known for solving complex human capital challenges and has led executive searches across North and South America, Europe, and China—placing leaders for Fortune 500 companies, high-growth scale-ups, and PE-backed innovators.