Alex Lintner is the recently appointed CEO of Vertafore, a tech firm that caters to the insurance industry, with $360 million in revenue and 20,000 global customers. Formerly president of Intuit Global Business, Lintner is credited with growing IGB from $115 million in revenue in 2008 to $200 million by 2013 and more than doubling profitability during the worst recession in decades. After nine years with the company, Lintner retired, then came out of retirement eight months ago to join Vertafore as CEO. We spoke with Lintner about making the transition into his first CEO role.
How did you prepare for the transition from the responsibilities of president to CEO?
“My previous role as president of Intuit Global Business was a good training ground for all things business related. But I reached out to some CEOs of private equity-backed firms and to a friend who runs a portfolio of tech companies for a private equity firm. I spent time understanding the investor side of things, something that wasn’t part of my job at Intuit. Once I arrived, I went on a listening tour visiting 50 customers in 100 days, as well as shareholders, to understand their interest with our assets.”
How did the board get involved in preparing you for your new role?
“My predecessor, Euan Menzies, moved into the vice chairman role, so he was nearby and very engaged. He introduced me to the insurance industry and he joined me for two-thirds of the customer visits. Before and after the customer conversations, he helped me interpret what I saw and heard. Our specific vertical was new to me. Euan was the person who mentored me into that market segment and into the CEO role. i asked him a lot of basic questions about what to do and how he operated his business. He has been a great thought partner to me and that still remains today.”
Do you have any mentors outside the company that you turn to for advice?
“Intuit’s current CEO Brad Smith and prior CEO Steve Bennett are my mentors. i talk to them every 4-6 weeks. They talk me through situations and help me prioritize my time. Running a business has a lot to do with people. Some people situations I haven’t encountered before, and they give me their point of view.”
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.
