Challenge
As KKR-backed PureGym prepared to launch and scale its US operations, the business needed a senior finance leader based in New York who could combine both Controllership and FP&A expertise. The role required someone capable of building the financial infrastructure for a rapidly expanding, multi-site business while reporting into an international leadership team. The ideal candidate needed private equity exposure, experience scaling a high-growth organisation from sub-$300M to over $1bn, and the leadership capability to build and lead a US finance team. The mandate was further narrowed by the requirement for a strong academic background and early training in a rigorous programme such as Investment Banking or the Big Four.
Action
We conducted four comprehensive market maps across private equity-backed multi-site businesses, high-growth companies, organisations with significant real estate footprints, and New York-based finance leaders who began their careers in Investment Banking or the Big Four before transitioning into operational finance roles. Over a two-week period we interviewed more than 30 candidates and presented a shortlist of five highly qualified individuals who met the full brief. All five were interviewed by PureGym, and within three weeks an offer was extended to a candidate from our original shortlist.
Impact
The successful candidate joined PureGym in February 2026 and quickly began building the financial infrastructure required to support the company’s ambitious US growth plans. With a senior finance leader now in place, PureGym has established a strong financial foundation to support its strategy to scale from 57 to over 400 locations across the US over the next five years.
Eve Sukhanandan, Group Chief People Officer, PureGym, said: “We partnered with Finatal to appoint a Finance Director and were impressed by their pace, precision and sharp understanding of the brief – particularly the performance capability and commercial depth we required. They operated with flexibility and reliability throughout, engaging stakeholders seamlessly and adapting to the needs of the process. Most importantly, they delivered an outstanding candidate who we are delighted to welcome into the Group.”
Paul Blant, Group CEO at Finatal, said: “This is a superb example of our international capability in action. PureGym is an excellent client for us across the UK and Europe, and it has been a real pleasure to support their US expansion. We’re delighted to provide our clients with an international platform to help them build success, and this was a fantastic delivery by Owen Gilbert on an outstanding placement.”