Private Equity Value Creation Podcast Ep. 98: Riccardo Basile, Permira | How to Focus Your Operating Team for Real Impact
Nov 6, 2025
Riccardo Basile, Operating Partner at Permira, specializes in commercial transformation and has built a dynamic 24-person value creation team. He shares insights on making value creation a competitive advantage by embedding operational excellence throughout the investment cycle. Riccardo emphasizes balancing in-house expertise with external resources and highlights the role of GenAI in enhancing portfolio performance. His strategies provide a blueprint for firms looking to refine their operating models and drive measurable results.
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From Fixer Team To Embedded Value Creators
- Riccardo described Permira's evolution from a 3-person portfolio team to a 24-person value creation group embedded across sectors.
- The team now works from diligence through exit, shifting from fixes to proactive transformation.
Sector-Focused Operating Model
- Permira organizes its value creation team by four investment sectors to build deep, sector-specific expertise.
- Embedding specialists yields higher-quality, repeatable support for portfolio companies than a horizontal generalist model.
Embed Value Creation In Diligence
- Work with investment teams early in diligence to underwrite a clear value creation plan before closing.
- Use that plan as the playbook you execute with management post-close.
