Portfolio CEO: Event Rental Company

Job Description

Job Description

Lead an established rental business in the greater Philadelphia metro area as its next CEO. Step into a tenured team, more than a decade of brand trust, a loyal customer base, and a clear pathway to earn significant equity over time.

This role is a fit if you have built your career in B2B and B2C services, owning the P&L, and earning customer trust one job at a time in a market where reputation is crucial

ABOUT AMERICAN OPERATOR

American Operator exists to keep the American Dream alive through small-business leadership and ownership. We place experienced operators into businesses of retiring owners who want their life's work placed in capable, values-driven hands. Our mission is to ensure great businesses stay local, stay strong, and stay in the hands of leaders who care.

Operators who partner with us step into the CEO role of an established Main Street business backed by hands-on support, strategic guidance, and a community of peers. This is not a solo endeavor. American Operator is your partner from day one, investing in your success as you build the business. Over time, operators follow a clear pathway to earn significant equity in the business they lead.

THE ROLE

American Operator is seeking a CEO to lead an established event rental business in the Greater Philadelphia metro area. The business has operated for more than two decades, serves a diversified customer base of catering firms, event venues, schools, non-profits, corporate clients, and individuals, and is supported by a tenured management team and inside and outside sales functions. The business runs on a substantial equipment fleet that is rented out for weddings, corporate events, school programs, and community gatherings across the region.

As CEO, you will have full P&L responsibility and lead the business through a leadership transition from the retiring owner with American Operator as your strategic partner throughout. This is not a corporate management position and it is not a solo operation. It is a hands-on leadership role where you will be in the warehouse, on customer calls, and in the field with your team during peak season, supported by a partner that provides the resources, and strategic guidance to help you succeed. The business is healthy, the team is tenured, and the first job is not to fix what is broken. It is to retain the people and customers who built the company, and position the business for long term growth.

Given American Operators model of local ownership, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in the value you deliver with real equity over time.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Lead a multi-function operation across warehouse, logistics, inside sales, and outside sales, and drive measurable results across each

• Own the full P&L, with particular attention to gross margin, labor productivity, and capital equipment reinvestment

• Retain and develop the existing team

• Manage a large rental equipment fleet with discipline on inventory utilization, asset condition, lifecycle planning, and replacement capex

• Build and protect customer relationships

• Nurture and develop the local referral network that drives organic growth

• Recruit, train, and retain seasonal field and warehouse labor through spring and summer peak periods

• Uphold the company's reputation and culture while bringing the leadership and ambition to take it further

• Partner with American Operator on strategy, budgeting, and growth planning

REQUIREMENTS

• 10+ years of leadership experience

• 3+ years of full P&L ownership

• 3+ years of direct hiring and firing experience

• Experience building and executing a go-to-market plan for a service business

• Leadership roles in a small business of 100 employees or fewer

• Experience leading a services business that is driven through referrals networks and partnerships

WHAT SETS YOU APART

• Direct experience in event rental, equipment rental, or tool rental. A strong understanding of unique financial mechanics of the rental businesses

• Experience leading and optimizing a warehouse and logistics team, including routing, job scheduling, and inventory management

• Experience filling in as the next leader of a tenured team

• Entrepreneurial mindset and equity-forward motivation. You are drawn to this opportunity because of the path to ownership, not just the operating role

COMPENSATION

Base salary starts at $150,000, with benefits provided by the portfolio company including health, dental, and vision insurance, paid time off, paid holidays, and retirement benefits. The compensation package also includes distributions, performance bonuses, and equity that grows based on your ability to drive results, with the potential to become a significant owner of the business you lead.

LOCATION

This opportunity is located in the Greater Philadelphia metro area. Relocation will be required if you are not currently in the area. The exact location will be shared during the interview process.

Ready to lead the next chapter?

Before you apply, we encourage you to visit americanoperator.com to learn more about who we are, how we work, and what our operators have to say about the experience. When you are ready, apply today to start the conversation.