ABOUT PETE
Investor | Advisor | Speaker | Podcaster
My journey to becoming a Search Investor
5 acquisitions, 3 'tours-of-duty' as a CEO, 2 exits and 3 sell-downs
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Leaving Corporate
In 2012, after a 15 year career spanning engineering, project management, investment banking and general management, I realised that the large corporate path wasn't for me - I needed more autonomy and accountability than big business could ever provide.
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Getting Started
I co-founded Alpin Group with Iain Morris to acquire, operate and grow small businesses in Australia.
This was a big leap of faith that felt crazy at the time, but proved to be the best business decision of my career!
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Operating Our Businesses
I acted as CEO for three of the businesses, for periods ranging from 6 months to three years, after which I successfully managed my own succession and remained on the Boards of each as a Non-Executive Director.
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Acquiring and Exiting
We acquired our first business in June 2013 and over the next 4 years acquired four more. By 2020, we had successfully exited two of these businesses and sold partial stakes in the other three.
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The Entrepreneurship Journey
This owner/operator experience gave me that mix of autonomy and accountability I was seeking. It also opened my eyes to the world of small business and the global Search community.
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Moving Forward
I'm now leveraging my own Search experience to back other aspiring entrepreneurs and play my part in supporting the critical global transition from baby-boomer owner/founders to the next generation of business owners.
Pete on
The Convo Couch Show
Thought Leadership
Search Fund & Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition
I'm one of Australasia's most experienced practitioners and a leading voice for Search Fund and ETA insights and advice.
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Guest Podcasts and Interviews
I'm often the one giving the interviews on my Podcast The Next Step, but occasionally I jump in the other chair to be interviewed. Here's a selection of some of my recent interviews: