Navigating the PE world – How CHROs can actually use their Operating Partner
July 2, 2026
For many portfolio companies, the Operating Partner is one of the most underused assets a CHRO has. Yet the best portco HR leaders treat them as co-architects of the people and organization agenda, not just as another layer of governance.
Here are a few practical ways CHROs can structure touchpoints in the first 100 days and beyond:
- Align on the “people thesis” early. Translate the value-creation plan into a clear view of critical roles, leadership gaps, culture risks, and talent priorities; pressure-test this with the Operating Partner to ensure it matches the deal team’s expectations.
- Design a 100-day people plan together. Use the Operating Partner as a sounding board for sequencing leadership changes, org redesign, and key hires, balancing speed with risk.
- Use them as a sparring partner, not just a monitor. Bring draft org charts, incentive ideas, and succession options to them early; invite challenge on trade-offs, investor optics, and what has worked in other portcos.
- Clarify governance “rules of engagement”. Agree on decision rights, meeting cadence, and what gets escalated; this avoids confusion between value-added support and unhelpful interference.
- Leverage their network. Tap their access to proven interim leaders, specialist advisors, and other CHROs who have solved similar problems across the portfolio.
When CHROs and Operating Partners build this kind of partnership, the people agenda stops being a parallel track and becomes a direct lever for value creation.How are you currently involving your Operating Partner in your portco’s people and organization decisions?