Starting from IB, how do I get seconded from a PE firm to its PortCo at the C-suite level?

Am currently an assoc at one of the BBs and my aim within the next 5 - 10 years is to get into a C-suite role at a mid-sized consumer / F&B company. 

I see that notable folks such as Shou Chew and Damola Adamolekun both did their 2-year IB stint, followed by HBS, then a buyside role and finally ending up as CFO / CEO. Shou became CFO of Xiaomi before becoming CEO of TikTok, while Adamolekun became CEO of P.F. Chang before becoming CEO of Red Lobster. 

Is this the best way to end up as a C-level exec at a corporate? 

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Since your goal relates to mid-sized companies, I'll just comment with that in mind. Within my network, the most common path is the individual was an Associate in PE and transitioned to a portco owned by that same PE shop. 

Next most common path, though a notable drop-off compared to the above, is roughly a tie between MBB consulting and IB (from strong MM to BB shops).

The larger the company is at the time of the c-suite opening, the greater the shift towards people who have operating/c-suite experience in the same sector (whether that be F500 c-suite or former founders/execs responsible for growing their companies and facilitating a successful exit), and eventually more representative than the first path I mentioned. 

 

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