How a Tech Founder Transformed into a CEO Championing M&A Growth

Art Papas, CEO of Bullhorn

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Growth through M&A is about strategy, timing, and bold leadership. The stakes are high, but the rewards are transformative for those who get it right. In this episode, Art Papas, CEO of Bullhorn, shares his journey from tech founder to M&A leader, and how he turned acquisitions into engines of growth.

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Things you will learn:

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The role evolution from tech lead to CEO
The case for buyer-led M&A
Leveraging customer insights to identify strategic opportunities
Balancing control and growth with private equity sponsorship
Building M&A strategies and handling private equity transitions

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For the past 25 years, Bullhorn has dedicated itself to building industry-leading, cloud-based software for the staffing and recruitment industry. Through partnerships with 10,000 customers globally, Bullhorn has built a vast knowledge base of recruitment best practices and deep domain expertise to help firms scale their businesses. Founder-led and headquartered in Boston, Bullhorn employs 1,400 people across 14 countries focused on delivering an incredible customer experience – its core mission.

Industry

Software Development

Founded

1999

Website

http://bullhorn.com

Art Papas

Art Papas is the Founder and CEO of Bullhorn, Inc., the global leader in staffing and recruitment software. Starting as Bullhorn's Chief Technology Officer (CTO) in 1999, Art transitioned to CEO in 2003, leading the company’s evolution into a CRM platform serving over 10,000 companies worldwide. With a strong foundation in technology and a strategic approach to M&A, Art has transformed Bullhorn into a powerhouse, offering valuable insights on scaling businesses and driving growth through acquisitions.