We Need to Talk About...
We Need to Talk About...
Felix Mitchell and Louise Fraser
Pace or People? Why PE-Backed Businesses Shouldn't Have to Choose with Jonny Friedman
28 minutes Posted Jul 30, 2026 at 5:00 am.
0:00
28:05
Download MP3
Show notes

Jonny Friedman, Chief People Officer at Acumetis Global, joins Felix to talk about what happens when you merge five businesses into one across nine countries - all under private equity pressure to deliver double-digit growth. Jonny makes the case for why culture and commercial performance aren't competing priorities, how his team co-created a set of values and behaviours with every level of the organisation, and why radical honesty with your people always beats spin. He also shares his "never leave anybody behind" mantra and why being a father to four boys has shaped everything about how he leads.