PE Board Dynamics: The Critical Missing Voice — Janice Ellig and Melissa Mounce
What if private equity boards asked not who do we know but what do we need?
In a Financial Times dialogue, Janice Ellig, CEO of Ellig Group, and Melissa Mounce Mithal, a seasoned PE board director and recruiter, explore how the speed and trust that drive private equity can unintentionally narrow board composition. Too often, boards default to “central casting” — filling seats with the same archetypes of former CEOs or CFOs. While familiar, this approach risks overlooking situational expertise critical for value creation in today’s environment.
Melissa argues that asking “What’s the missing voice in your boardroom?” reframes the conversation around relevancy. Whether the challenge is digital transformation, regulatory complexity, or culture integration, identifying that “missing voice” raises the bar by focusing on demonstrable, situational expertise.
Janice notes that in an era defined by disruption, having relevant expertise, agility and real time judgement are no longer optional for board directors. Janice and Melissa together make the case for broadening the aperture, not as a compromise, but as a strategic imperative to ensure boards drive stronger oversight, smarter strategy, and sustainable outcomes.
Here is a link to the full article in the Financial Times; please be aware that the article is behind a paywall.
