What it’s like to be a CEO with Banyan

Change is inevitable when a company is acquired, but we operate with a decentralized model built on accountable autonomy. CEOs and their teams continue to run the business day to day, preserving their unique brand and culture. Customers and employees experience continuity, while leaders gain the confidence of having a trusted partner on long-term strategy

It’s rare to have a circle of colleagues and friends who all have the same job, but you can imagine how helpful it would be. As a Banyan CEO, you get just that. A community of passionate, experienced leaders who are eager to learn and grow while helping their peers do the same. This involves attending regular training sessions and off-site meetings to share best practices, insights, and of course, a few laughs. Whatever problem you may be facing as you grow the business, it’s highly likely that another one of our CEO’s has gone through something similar and that peer advice can be invaluable.

We do not run your back office or take over daily operations. Instead, each business is paired with a dedicated Operating Leader who acts as a board-level advisor. CEOs can also access Growth Enablement resources such as finance and accounting guidance, HR advisory, sales and marketing playbooks, technology workshops, talent acquisition support, and legal frameworks. These tools are optional and designed to help leaders accelerate growth without giving up independence.

Our CEOs lead businesses that consistently achieve double-digit organic growth and expand into new markets. This happens through a combination of autonomy and support: proven playbooks, strategic partnership, a dedicated Talent Acquisition team, and the ability to pursue acquisitions using our M&A expertise. The result is a growth-focused partnership that helps companies achieve outcomes that would be difficult to reach alone.

We are a permanent home where legacies are protected, but we are also a purpose-driven company that believes businesses should be a force for good. CEOs and their teams are supported with employee programs like an Employee Relief Fund for in times of unexpected hardship, and a Learning & Development Fund. Through the Banyan Software Foundation, each company’s success is tied to a broader positive impact in education, sustainability, and social equity. For many CEOs, this brings a sense of pride and purpose to their leadership.

Jake McGuire joined TransPlus as CEO after a successful acquisition in August of 2020. With 15+ years of experience leading SaaS companies to impressive new heights, Jake was uniquely suited to help TransPlus grow to meet the changing needs of the transportation industry.

 

Jake credits the company’s accelerated growth to its’ decentralized management model. “When I joined TransPlus, it was already operating with a growth mentality. I didn’t want to disrupt that; I wanted to build upon it,” explained Jake. “We opened a new office, rewarded existing team members for their dedication, developed programs to attract and retain top talent, and introduced new tools and processes. All of this has allowed us to amplify our amazing culture and has set us up to best support our team as we rapidly scale.”

Cathy’s situation was a bit different in that she had already worked at Next Chapter Technology (NCT) for many years when the software company was acquired by Banyan in 2021. Through the transition, the owner stayed on board and passed the leadership responsibilities to Cathy who was ready to take on the challenge.

 

Cathy appreciated the opportunity to carry NCT’s legacy forward knowing she’d have the full support from our extended team as a first-time CEO, saying, “Having weekly touchpoints with my Operating Partner and on-demand access to experts and resources to address any given challenge, gave me confidence that we could continue to grow this business together.”