President

President

Flying Horse Capital Portfolio Company | Fort Lauderdale, FL Metro (On-site)

Flying Horse Capital is hiring a President for a founder-led business in the Fort Lauderdale metro in which we recently acquired a controlling interest. The President will run day-to-day operations and learn the business from the founder, with a possible handoff of full CEO duties within 2 years.

Reports to: Founder & CEO, with close partnership with Flying Horse Capital

Direct reports: Senior leadership team

Compensation: Base + annual bonus + equity + co-invest rights

About Flying Horse Capital

Flying Horse Capital is a Dallas-based permanent capital firm that acquires and holds founder- and family-owned businesses in the lower middle market. We buy to own — there is no exit timeline. We invest in the people who run our companies, support them with operating resources across the portfolio, and build for the next generation, not the next sale.

Our philosophy traces to two family businesses: a Connecticut auto repair garage and a Rhode Island donut shop that grew into a regional chain. Both were built by veterans who believed in hard work, community, and doing right by their people. We hold our companies to that standard.

About the Company

The company is a founder-led business headquartered in the Fort Lauderdale metro. Flying Horse Capital recently acquired a controlling interest, and the founder will remain CEO and a board member for the next 2 years. A clear growth program is in place.

The Opportunity

This is a rare chance to run a growing company while learning directly from the founder who built it. The President will take ownership of day-to-day operations and execution of the growth program, freeing the founder to focus on the CEO and board role.

For the right operator, this seat offers a path to full CEO duties within 2 years. That handoff is a possibility rather than a guarantee, and it will be earned through performance and fit with the founder and Flying Horse Capital.

Key Responsibilities

Day-to-Day Leadership

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• Run daily operations across the business and lead the senior team
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• Set priorities, KPIs, and a consistent operating cadence
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• Own operating performance, including revenue, margin, and cash flow
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• Solve problems close to the work; stay visible and accessible to employees
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Growth Program Execution

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• Own execution of the company's growth program, working from the plan already in place
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• Translate growth goals into clear initiatives, owners, and timelines
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• Track progress and adjust with the founder and Flying Horse Capital as needed
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• Build the operational capacity to support growth
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Partnership with the Founder

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• Learn the business, customers, and relationships directly from the founder
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• Take on responsibility in stages as trust and knowledge grow
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• Preserve the culture and reputation the founder built
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• Prepare to assume full CEO duties if the handoff moves forward
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Team & Culture

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• Assess the leadership team; develop existing talent and add new talent where needed
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• Build a high-accountability culture rooted in the company's values
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• Develop the next generation of leaders inside the business
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Ownership & Board

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• Deliver clear, candid reporting to the founder, the board, and Flying Horse Capital
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• Use Flying Horse Capital's operating resources and portfolio network
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• Represent the company with customers, vendors, and the community
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First 24 Months

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• Days 1–90: Learn the business alongside the founder; meet employees, key customers, and vendors; assess people, processes, and progress against the growth program
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• Months 4–12: Take over day-to-day operations; set KPIs and operating cadence; address priority talent and operational gaps; drive the growth program
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• Months 13–24: Lead the business with growing autonomy; deliver on growth goals; deepen founder relationships and institutional knowledge; prepare for a possible handoff of full CEO duties
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Qualifications

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• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience, including 5+ years as a President, COO, or General Manager in a lower-middle-market company
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• Proven record of executing growth plans and improving profitability
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• Experience running day-to-day operations with P&L accountability
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• Founder- or family-owned company experience strongly preferred
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• Private equity or sponsor-backed experience preferred
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• Track record of building and developing leadership teams
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• Hands-on operator who leads from the front and works comfortably in the details
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• Humility to learn from a founder and readiness to step into the CEO seat
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• Based in, or willing to relocate to, the Fort Lauderdale metro
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