Buy and Build

In this insightful and candid conversation, Paul is joined by Rob Liddiard—former CEO turned EOS implementer—to explore the harsh realities of post-acquisition leadership. Drawing on his extensive experience helping searcher CEOs implement EOS, Rob shares sharp observations about the pitfalls many new owner-operators fall into. Based on his viral LinkedIn post, "The Seven Sins of Post-Deal Leadership," the duo unpack the most common and damaging mistakes made in the early days of ownership. They discuss: Why searchers often swing between abdication and micromanagement The hidden cost of fuzzy expectations Building a talent bench before you need one Managing your internal team vs. managing up to investors Real stories and actionable advice for avoiding costly operational missteps Whether you're preparing for your first acquisition or navigating year one in the operator seat, this episode delivers a brutally honest yet encouraging roadmap for sustainable, effective leadership. Read Rob's excellent LinkedIn post on the same topic here. Also, for anyone new to the podcast, Rob helps Paul implement EOS in his acquired business as well as several other ETA CEO's. He offers a free introductory session to all listeners, just reach out to him on LinkedIn or [email protected]  Finally, if you are a UK searcher looking to accelerate your acquisition journey. We are running our next acquisition accelerator cohort in Feb/March and early bird tickets are now live and selling fast. Get yours here

In this episode, we're joined by Alex Packham—founder of ContentCal, which he scaled from agency roots into a SaaS platform used by thousands globally, culminating in an acquisition by Adobe. Alex shares his journey from selling SIM cards in the schoolyard to running social media at ODEON and NOW TV, to building and exiting a tech company during COVID. We dive into the scrappy early days, lessons from blitzscaling, the stress of due diligence, and what it really takes to build a world-class team. Now back in the CEO seat at mental health startup JAAQ, Alex reflects on founder identity, investing in 60 startups, and why he's applying a Silicon Valley mindset to UK tech. This episode is packed with actionable insights on hiring, leadership, scale-up pains, and the emotional rollercoaster of building and selling a business.

Billy Morley joins Paul on this episode of the Buy and Build podcast to share his inspiring transition from army officer to Oxford MBA, and ultimately to entrepreneur through a self-funded ETA. Billy acquired Set-A-Side Storage, a business supporting the UK's booming TV and film industry with storage and logistics for sets and props. He explains why he chose to go self-funded and self-acquired, how he got comfortable investing personal savings into the deal, and why owning the autonomy was non-negotiable. Billy also dives into the reality of raising debt, working with a broker, and stepping into operations with a strong existing team. A compelling episode for anyone considering ETA—especially those eyeing non-glamorous sectors with serious upside.

In this landmark 100th episode, we're joined by Adam Johnson, an American acquisition entrepreneur who transitioned from the startup scene in California to acquiring and operating Water Direct in the UK. Adam takes us through his unique journey into the search fund world, how a Texas blizzard sparked conviction in a niche UK water logistics business, and the realities of running a highly operational, regulation-heavy company. We dive into: The challenges of a COVID-era search process Navigating investor skepticism for a volatile but essential service Building a new leadership team while preserving institutional knowledge Going from paper-based processes to a digitized, scalable business The long-term vision for growth and product expansion If you're in the ETA, SME, or search fund ecosystem—or just curious how someone turns infrastructure failure into a growth business—this one's for you.

What does it take to step into the CEO seat—whether by acquisition or promotion? In this special episode, Will Hunnam (Forza Doors) and Carl Lundberg (Gerald Edelman) return to share their personal leadership journeys, challenges of managing legacy teams, and how implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) transformed their approach to strategy and culture. We explore: The reality of becoming a first-time CEO Lessons from inheriting vs. building company culture How EOS creates clarity and drives accountability The hard conversations leaders must face Whether you're scaling an acquired SME or navigating leadership within a partnership model, this candid discussion is packed with insight for anyone in the buy-and-build or search fund world. ------ For searchers looking to accelerate their acquisition journey, there are still a few seat left on the 17th June, in London. book your ticket here: https://www.buyandbuildaccelerator.com/  For those looking to learn more about EOS, Rob Liddiard, the implementor mentioned on this episode is offering the searcher community a free introductory session. Reach out to him on [email protected]