Forsta is a world-leading Customer Experience and Research Technology company
OSLO, NORWAY – Lancer Group places Melissa Perri, CEO of Produx Labs, on the Board of Forsta, an integrated provider of customer insights solutions for both enterprise and market research agency customers. Forsta is the brand for the recently merged businesses of Confirmit (backed by Verdane) and FocusVision (backed by EQT Group), two of the world’s leading Experience and Research technology companies.
“I am delighted to welcome Melissa to our Board and team,” comments Kyle Ferguson, CEO. “Melissa brings world leading experience and knowledge of not only product development and management, but also a tangible passion for product professionals, organisation and growth strategy. I have no doubt at all that she will play a leading role in helping us achieve our ambition of reinventing the global insights industry.”
Melissa adds: “It is exciting to be part of Forsta. Their world class customer research and insights platform will enable companies to grow smarter about their customers, which is essential for great product management. When that is done correctly, customer problems are solved, and business goals are achieved. I intend to help Forsta effectively grow the product suite to create real value for the business.”
About Melissa Perri
Melissa Perri is the CEO of Produx Labs, a Product Management training organization, and the author of “Escaping the Build Trap.” In 2019, she was appointed to the faculty of Harvard Business School to teach Product Management in the MBA program. Melissa believes the key to creating great products is growing great product leaders. Committed to that mission, she created two online schools: Product Institute, where she has shared her scientific approach to Product Management with over 3500 students, and The CPO Accelerator, which specializes in growing product leaders into Chief Product Officers. Previously, Melissa has consulted with executives from organizations around the world to set up their product organizations, advise on product strategy, and train leaders and team members. She graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in Operations Research and Information Engineering.
About The Lancer Group
The Lancer Group is a leading retained executive search firm that is trusted by private equity firms, their portfolio companies and public corporations to deliver high-impact senior leaders. The firm specializes in board-driven search mandates including CEOs, CFOs, C-suite executives and board directors as well as private equity investment professionals and operating partners. The Lancer Group has provided strategic counsel to clients across a range of industries and has particular expertise in software, tech-enabled business services, and healthcare.
With relationships at over 50 of the top 100 private equity firms, The Lancer Group provides a range of pre-deal private equity advisory services beyond traditional executive search. These services include deal origination, diligence support and introductions to “backable” executives.
Founded in 1998, The Lancer Group is privately held and operates from offices across North America and Australia (website: www.thelancergroup.com).
About Forsta:
Forsta is the only integrated provider of customer insights solutions for both enterprise and market research agency customers, providing both qualitative and quantitative insights and analytical tools. With operations in the US, Europe and Asia, Forsta serves its customers on a global basis.
Forsta provides Quantitative research (including Surveys & Reporting), Qualitative research (including Digital Qual & Live Video and Video Insights) and Voice of the Customer / Voice of the Employee research solutions, enabling its customers to derive actionable customer insights on a holistic basis (website: forsta.com).
About EQT:
EQT is a purpose-driven global investment organization with more than EUR 67 billion in assets under management across 26 active funds. EQT funds have portfolio companies in Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas with total sales of approximately EUR 29 billion and more than 175,000 employees. EQT works with portfolio companies to achieve sustainable growth, operational excellence and market leadership (website: www.eqtgroup.com).
About Verdane
Verdane is a specialist growth equity investment firm that partners with ambitious Northern European tech-enabled businesses to help them reach the next stage of international growth. Verdane pioneered portfolio acquisitions in Northern Europe in 2003 and announced a complementary fund strategy entirely dedicated to direct investments in 2018. Verdane’s eight funds have made over 120 investments into category leaders in digital consumer, energy & resource efficiency and software businesses. Based out of Berlin, Copenhagen, Helsinki, London, Oslo and Stockholm, the Verdane team is dedicated to being the preferred growth partner to tech-enabled businesses in Northern Europe (website: www.verdane.com).
Firm Contacts
Scott Dunklee
(858) 551-1001 (Ext. 2860)
scott.dunklee@thelancergroup.com
Victoria Lakers
(858) 551-1001 (Ext. 2865)
victoria.lakers@thelancergroup.com
