Framing The Search Assignment
Position: Chief Financial Officer
Client: Exact Corporation, a private equity-backed agricultural equipment manufacturer headquartered in Modesto, California.
The Challenge
Following the merger of two complementary agricultural equipment manufacturers, the business needed to recruit its first Chief Financial Officer to help unify the combined organization and prepare it for its next stage of growth.
The successful candidate needed to be more than a traditional finance leader. They would partner closely with the CEO to professionalize the finance function, improve financial visibility, integrate disconnected systems, strengthen reporting and controls, develop the accounting team, and help position the business for future growth.
The role required someone equally comfortable rolling up their sleeves to solve day-to-day operational challenges while providing strategic financial leadership to the Board and ownership group.
The Solution
3P Partners conducted a targeted executive search across food manufacturing, agriculture, industrial manufacturing, and private equity-backed businesses before successfully placing Dan Townsend.
Dan brought more than 20 years of finance leadership experience spanning private equity, manufacturing, food production, distribution, and technology. Most recently, he rebuilt the finance organization for a private equity-backed manufacturing and distribution business, implemented financial systems and automation, strengthened lender relationships, and played a key role in the successful sale of the business.
What ultimately set Dan apart was his combination of strategic leadership and hands-on execution. His experience leading ERP implementations, strengthening cost accounting, integrating acquisitions, and partnering closely with operations made him the ideal fit to build the financial foundation required for Exact’s next phase of growth.
The 3P Difference
Building executive teams in food, agribusiness, and manufacturing requires more than matching resumes to job descriptions.
Our industry specialization and long-standing relationships give our clients access to proven finance leaders who are rarely active in the market. We evaluate candidates not only for their technical expertise, but also for their leadership style, cultural fit, and ability to thrive in founder-led and private equity-backed businesses where strategic thinking and hands-on execution are equally important.
The Results
Dan joined Exact as Chief Financial Officer to partner directly with the CEO and Board while building the financial infrastructure needed to support the company’s long-term growth strategy.
His experience leading finance transformations, improving reporting disciplines, implementing scalable systems, and supporting acquisitions positioned him to immediately address the priorities created by the merger while laying the foundation for future growth and value creation.
Doug Flora, CEO, Exact Corporation
“As our business went through a merger and a substantial growth phase, we quickly realized we needed to hire a seasoned CFO to help us navigate our new reality. It was very important to me that we protect the unity and culture of our existing executive team. 3P was an extremely valuable partner through this process, bringing many high-quality candidates to the table for us to consider. Dan Townsend was the perfect mix of extensive CFO talent and experience, as well as a great cultural fit. He has been a wonderful “plug and play” solution, integrating quickly into our existing executive team and positioning us well for the future.”