This event is for FBA Advisor Members only.
Advisor Connect is a monthly event designed to support your ongoing professional development in family business advising, while building connections with fellow FBA Advisor Members across multiple disciplines.
Each event centres on a key theme which shapes the speakers, discussions, and learnings throughout the session. It’s an opportunity to deepen your understanding of others’ expertise, share insights, and uncover collaborative opportunities that will benefit you and the family businesses you support.
This hybrid event will be held in-person at Gallagher, Brisbane and also online. To join online the link will be provided when you register.
Topic: Why GM & CEO Hires Fail in Family Businesses
What the session will be about
Many family businesses are willing to engage with great advisors, yet many still struggle to implement change and move forward.
A common response is to hire a General Manager or CEO. However, these hires frequently underperform or fail, not because of capability, but because the business environment isn’t set up to support them. This session will unpack why this pattern occurs, drawing on real-world experience, and explore the structural and behavioural shifts required within founder-led businesses to enable successful leadership transitions. It will also provide advisors with a practical lens to identify when a business is ready for a senior leadership hire.
Key Takeaways
1. Why GM/CEO hires fail
Understand the underlying causes of failed leadership hires in family businesses, including founder dependency, lack of structure, and absence of true accountability.
2. How to identify when a client is not ready for a senior hire
Learn a simple, practical diagnostic to assess whether a business has the operating structure and leadership capacity required for a GM or CEO to succeed.
3. A better sequence for driving change and implementation
Shift from “hire to fix” thinking to building the execution environment first, thus enabling advisors to guide clients more effectively through growth, succession, and transition.
Speaker
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Adrian Nisbet, CEO, The End Game |
Adrian Nisbet is the CEO of The End Game®, where he works with founders, family businesses and advisors to transition organisations from founderdependent operations to scalable, independent businesses. He began his career in his family’s engineering business, gaining practical experience across operations and leadership as the business grew. As the organisation matured, he was closely involved in its transition from a founder-led model to a more structured and systemised business, with improved financial visibility, defined management structures and increased enterprise value. This process enabled the founders to step away from day-to-day operations and ultimately led to a successful sale. Following this, Adrian spent many years working with private equity firms and leadership teams across a range of industries. His work focused on transitioning founder-led and under-structured businesses into organisations capable of consistent performance through clear governance, management accountability and disciplined processes. At The End Game®, Adrian works alongside founders and leadership teams to implement the structures, operating rhythm and accountability required to support sustainable performance. His focus is on ensuring that strategy is translated into execution, with improvements in leadership capability, financial visibility and organisational alignment. Adrian is known for his practical and direct approach, working closely with stakeholders to navigate structural change and align outcomes across founders, executives and advisors. He and his team remain actively engaged with clients on-site, utilising light aircraft to travel to be present on the ground, maintaining a close connection to business operations and leadership teams across metropolitan and regional locations. Adrian holds a steadfast vision: Founder built businesses that endure beyond their founders.
Why Attend Advisor Connect
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Expand your network and connect with like-minded professionals who share your passion for supporting family businesses.
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Gain practical insights and strategies from experienced speakers on topics that matter most in family business advisory.
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Explore opportunities and collaborate with other advisors to strengthen the services you provide and challenge your way of thinking
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Stay ahead, keeping up-to-date with evolving best practices in advising family businesses.
As an FBA Advisor Member you are eligible to attend any advisor events across Australia and New Zealand
Not an FBA Family Business Accredited Advisor?
Becoming an FBA Accredited Advisor gives you the essential knowledge, skills, and practical tools to confidently support family businesses as they navigate growth, succession, and complex dynamics.
By engaging with a trusted community of professionals, you’ll stay informed on best practices, share experiences, and continue to grow your capability as an advisor. You’ll also be part of a supportive network dedicated to helping family businesses thrive for generations to come.
Learn more and become an Accredited Advisor today.
