Interim Leadership for Strategic Growth
Experienced Guidance When It Matters Most
Providing interim, fractional, and advisory leadership across operations, technology, and transformation for businesses facing growth, change, or challenges.
Decades of Proven Leadership
Trusted Experience and Results
Our team brings over two decades of senior leadership experience, combining board-level accountability with a proven ability to scale, stabilise and transform complex service and engineering businesses. With deep experience across private-equity-backed, high-growth and turnaround environments, we help organisations move forward with clarity and confidence.
Our Expertise
Tailored Services for Your Needs
Interim & Fractional Leadership
Offering seasoned leadership as COO, Operations Director, or Technology Director to support your business through periods of growth, change, or disruption.
Operational Transformation
Enhancing delivery, accountability, and performance by aligning people, processes, and data while safeguarding existing strengths.
Turnaround & Stabilisation
Providing hands-on support during underperformance or financial strain, delivering clarity, prioritization, and calm execution.
Technology & Systems Strategy
Delivering pragmatic technology leadership to ensure systems, data, and platforms align with commercial and operational objectives.
M&A Support (Pre and Post Deal)
Conducting operational due diligence, integration planning, and execution to minimize risk and protect value during transitions.
Board & Advisory Support
Offering NED and advisory input for an independent, experienced perspective and trusted challenge for CEOs and investors.
Who I Work With
Partnering with founder-led businesses preparing to scale, private-equity-backed organizations, and leadership teams navigating complexity, growth, or transition.
How I Work
Engagements are characterized by calm, data-driven decision-making, people-centric yet commercially grounded leadership, and a focus on clear priorities and accountability.
Businesses We Support
Who We Work With
At CornerstoneExec, we specialize in partnering with founder-led enterprises poised for growth, private-equity-backed firms, and organizations navigating the complexities of transition. Our services are tailored for leadership teams seeking to enhance their strategic bandwidth, stability, and experience, ensuring they are well-equipped to tackle challenges and seize opportunities.
How We Engage
Our approach is rooted in calm, data-driven decision-making, with a strong emphasis on people-centric leadership that is commercially astute. We provide hands-on support where necessary, while maintaining a strategic focus to deliver the highest value. Our engagements prioritize clarity in communication, accountability, and a steadfast commitment to progress over performance.
By fostering an environment of trust and transparency, we ensure that our clients experience a seamless integration of our expertise, leading to tangible outcomes that align with their business objectives.
Paul Hayes
Paul Hayes is the founder of Cornerstone Exec, bringing over two decades of senior leadership experience across operations, technology, and governance. Known for his strategic acumen and ability to drive transformation, Paul has successfully led growth initiatives, acquisitions, and integrations in high-pressure environments. His deep understanding of ownership dynamics and risk management stems from his extensive background in private-equity-backed ventures and complex service industries. With a discreet and confident approach, Paul is committed to providing independent, insightful guidance to CEOs and investors, ensuring sustainable success and stability.
Flexible Engagement Models
Tailored Leadership Solutions for Your Business Needs
At CornerstoneExec, we understand that every business is unique, requiring bespoke solutions to navigate its challenges and opportunities. Our flexible engagement models are designed to provide the right level of support, whether you need interim leadership to steer your company through transitional phases, fractional support to fill critical gaps with expert guidance, or advisory roles to offer strategic insights. Our approach is grounded in flexibility and commercial pragmatism, ensuring that our services are tailored to meet your specific needs and drive sustainable success.