TCG Places Fractional CHRO at Ara Partners

HOUSTON, TEXAS – Ara Partners, a private equity firm specializing in industrial decarbonization investments, has placed Colin Dicke as their new Fractional CHRO. CEO, Nat Schiffer and Recruiting Director, Carrie Longmire, led and placed this search.

“This search demonstrated the changing demands of  the marketplace and our ability to play a leading role in supporting them.  I suspect that the Fractional CHRO will be an increasingly popular resource for PE-sponsored companies or in this case the PE Firm itself.  The catalyst is quite simple, where the organization is today will be very different a year or two from now, often because of growth or massive transformation.  Thus a fractional CHRO serves as a perfect bridge,” Nat Schiffer shared. 

As a Fractional CHRO with Ara Partners, Colin will report to the COO and be a member of the Leadership Team. He oversees the development, implementation, and administration of human resources programs and services to support the mission, vision, and values of Ara Partners and its team members. Colin will manage the day-to-day operations of the Human Resources Department, and serve as a strategic partner and consultant to the Managing Partners and senior leadership. 

Colin Dicke is an accomplished Human Resources leader. With a master’s in Industrial and Labor Relations and over two decades of hands-on experience, Colin excels in crafting and executing strategic plans, forecasting performance improvements, and navigating transformative initiatives, including change management, organizational design, leadership development, and project leadership and management. He brings a wealth of expertise in influencing, coaching, mentoring, and facilitating complex discussions, making him an invaluable asset to organizations seeking to leverage their workforce as a competitive advantage and exceed their business goals through progressive human resources practices.

“A Fractional CHRO in a PE firm serves as a compass, a tactician, and a confidante. They offer nuanced guidance on complex issues from mergers and acquisitions to cultural transformation, while their flexibility allows for laser focus on initiatives that produce immediate, measurable impact. They’re not just an HR leader; they’re an agile business partner,” TCG Managing Partner, Jeff Bettinger shared. 

About Ara Partners

Ara Partners is a private equity firm specializing in industrial decarbonization investments. Ara Partners invests in the industrial & manufacturing, chemicals & materials, energy efficiency & green fuels and food & agriculture sectors, seeking to build businesses that are focused on sustainability and ESG principles. With AUM exceeding $4 Billion dollars and a multi-billion dollar fund expected to close in the fall. Ara Partners is growing! Ara Partners works collaboratively with management teams to help companies solve complex industry challenges with technology and innovation. We know that no single process is too small to make a big difference towards reducing carbon emissions and fostering a cleaner economy. 

Ara Partners includes a strong roster of industry veterans with technical, operational, and private equity expertise to see value in investment opportunities that others may not. Our small, nimble team makes it easy for us to move quickly and remain flexible in our collaborations with portfolio companies

About The Christopher Group

Through its award-winning, customized HR solutions, The Christopher Group (TCG) delivers critical human capital solutions in the area of executive HR search, interim HR leaders, fractional CHROs, and HR advisory and consulting. Since 1998, TCG has served clients across all industries, locations, company sizes, and verticals. Staffed by former HR professionals and highly trained search practitioners who have sat in the job, TCG has been named one of the Fastest-Growing and Best Non-Profit and Diversity Executive Recruiting Firms by Hunt Scanlon as well as Forbes’ 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022 list of America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms.