Background
Exclusive Networks is a global cybersecurity specialist distributor with a presence across EMEA, APAC and The Americas. In 2024, Exclusive was acquired in a full takeover by private equity firms Permira and Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) at a valuation of €2.2 billion. This marked a new chapter of aggressive global growth and leadership transformation.
With new ownership and an ambitious goal to double the business, Exclusive Networks faced a critical inflection point. The appointment of their first-ever Chief Revenue Officer was not just about finding a leader, it was about moving fast to set the tone for a new era.
The search required speed, discretion, and an impeccable fit: someone from within the cybersecurity ecosystem who could gain immediate credibility with their vendor partners, build trust with internal stakeholders, and implement scalable sales frameworks for a $6B global engine. With a new investor joining the fold, the Executive Leadership team needed a partner who could navigate this complexity without any compromise on quality or velocity.
Iperium was introduced to Jesper Trolle, CEO of Exclusive Networks, by Michail Zekkos, the Co-Head of Technology at Permira. This introduction came with a mandate to make a statement hire, one that would elevate the Executive Leadership Team and send a clear message to the market about the company’s growth trajectory under new private equity ownership.
Using our domain knowledge and talent.ai intelligence, we ran a precision targeted search across the global cybersecurity landscape.
We focused on leaders with track records of managing large and complex revenue organisations, who were action orientated, and capable of executing at pace.
Iperium delivered: Roman Tuma, an industry veteran with a reputation for data driven growth, clear eyed strategic thinking, and operational excellence.
Tuma now leads a $6B global sales organisation with a mandate to accelerate growth across geographies and service lines.
This was a landmark hire for Exclusive and a foundational move in reshaping their global GTM structure to align with ambitious growth targets.
Why it worked
Exclusive needed more than a recruiter. They needed a partner with deep cybersecurity domain expertise, a trusted network, and an unrelenting bias for speed. Iperium delivered all three.
Speed was non negotiable. Exclusive couldn’t wait months for shortlists, this was a landmark executive hire that required urgency without compromising quality.
We moved from launch call to shortlist in days, not weeks, giving the CEO and investors the confidence to move decisively.
Our credibility with Permira and established relationships in cybersecurity leadership circles allowed us to approach top-tier candidates discreetly and swiftly. Precision delivery, global reach, and relentless execution made us the ideal partner.
The successful placement of Roman Tuma is already reshaping the commercial engine at Exclusive Networks, exactly the outcome our partnership was built for.