Allura Partners appoints CFO for BOSS Engineering
In April 2024, Alceon Private Equity completed its largest acquisition to date by purchasing a 50% stake in BOSS Engineering, a leading automated agricultural equipment business. The partnership marks the first institutional capital injection for BOSS Engineering, aimed at supporting its geographical expansion and accelerating its capacity to invest in new machinery, robots, infrastructure and people.
Allura Partners was engaged by BOSS Engineering to conduct an executive search for appointing a new Chief Financial Officer. Rick, Principal Consultant at Allura Partners, led the search in close collaboration with BOSS Engineering’s Board of Directors.
The search was conducted across Australia and New Zealand, focusing on candidates from the agriculture and manufacturing sectors with extensive corporate finance experience. Rick utilised our research team, network of referrals, and a comprehensive advertising and email campaign to find suitable candidates.
John Lehman emerged as the ideal candidate for the CFO position. John, formerly an Audit and Corporate Finance Partner with BDO South Africa, most recently served as CFO of Hustler Equipment in New Zealand, a business similar to BOSS Engineering, albeit servicing livestock farmers. At Hustler Equipment, John played a pivotal role in corporatising and expanding the business internationally.
John joins at a crucial time, as the company embarks on its next chapter of growth, aiming to double its size within the next three to five years and expand its customer base across Australia.
"Rick was top class. He was one of the best recruiters I have ever dealt with. He was always extremely patient and an excellent communicator" - John Lehman, Chief Financial Officer, BOSS Engineering
Following the CFO placement, Allura Partners also executed the CEO mandate for BOSS Engineering. James Curtis and Rick Jacobson, with support from Angela Borbe on our research team, led the search in collaboration with Alceon Private Equity and the executive team. This resulted in the appointment of James Haarhoff as CEO.
This marks our second executive placement at BOSS Engineering. We are delighted to have been involved in appointing new leadership for BOSS Engineering and look forward to seeing the company’s continued success under its strengthened executive team.
About Alceon Private Equity
Alceon Private Equity is a financier and multi-strategy alternative investment manager. Established in 2010 and headquartered in Sydney, Alecon has invested over A$10.4 billion capital for its high net worth, family office and institutional clients across real estate, private equity and listed equity.
About Boss Engineering
BOSS Engineering is one of the largest engineering-led manufacturers of farm equipment servicing the Agriculture and Transport sectors. Since inception in 2007, BOSS Engineering has adopted the latest engineering and manufacturing techniques. The modern manufacturing plant is over 30,000 square metres, employing more than 220 people. In 2011, BOSS launched its unique line of agriculture machinery, under the name BOSS Agriculture including Broadacre Planters, Row Crop Machinery, Air-Seeders and Spare parts.
BOSS Built is a division within BOSS Engineering focused on producing the highest quality ute trays, service bodies and transport equipment on the market.