In this episode, Alex sits down with Peter Rossi, a UK-based CTO with 25+ years in technology and 15 years in commercial leadership. From running trackside IT at McLaren to leading 22 acquisitions in a PE-backed group, Peter shares hard-earned lessons on growth, integration, and operating under pressure.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction & career overview
00:28 – Life at McLaren & high-performance environments
01:23 – VC due diligence & scaling tech businesses
02:24 – Building and exiting a SaaS company
03:50 – The biggest PE mistake: rigid M&A planning
07:25 – Lessons from Formula One
10:21 – Why professionalising leadership can slow growth
14:23 – How to double EBITDA in a PE cycle
18:56 – Integration lessons from 22 acquisitions
20:19 – Resources & how to connect

🔑 Key Takeaways

Plan for ambiguity. You can only acquire what exists in the market.
Not all revenue is equal. Cutting “non-core” products can damage the core.
Protect speed. Over-professionalising leadership reduces risk tolerance and slows execution.
Simplify to scale. Focus on core products and commercial outcomes to grow EBITDA.
Integration is human. Success comes from winning hearts and minds — not just aligning systems.

Raw Selection partners with Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies to secure exceptional executive talent. We focus on de-risking executive recruitment through meticulous search and selection processes, ensuring top-tier performance and long-term success.

🔗 Connect with Alex Rawlings on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrawlings/

🌐 Visit Raw Selection www.raw-selection.com

Looking to grow your team? Check out our Hiring Guides

for proven strategies, templates, and best practices to make smarter hires.

The lessons from Formula 1 to 22 acquisitions by a Private Equity-backed CTO

The Private Equity Podcast, by Raw Selection

The lessons from Formula 1 to 22 acquisitions by a Private Equity-backed CTO