- Chief Financial Officer:
- A CFO with public company experience is crucial for navigating financial reporting and investor relations. For non-US companies, hiring a US-based CFO with experience on Wall Street can be important when looking to list in the United States.
- General Counsel:
- Going public puts the Company under a microscope of regulatory, investor, employee, and public scrutiny.
- Investor Relations Officer:
- We recommend hiring an IRO (or engage an independent contractor or specialist firm) approximately one year ahead of the IPO to manage a syndicate of analysts.
- Audit Committee Chair:
- This key Board member oversees the production and auditing of financial statements and ensures the integrity of the Company’s public disclosures.
A couple of things to think about:
- Grow your management team as appropriate to ensure public company readiness. Comprehensive background checks on key new hires are essential to avoid any bumps in the road during the IPO process.
- Evaluate whether newer team members have been with the company long enough to fully grasp business trends, communicate the company’s story effectively, and deliver the strong financial metrics that investors with expect. This is especially important for those who will engage with public investors.