APRIL 15 2026
John Borgerding, Chairman of Anaqua, shares his experience of joining the company immediately following its acquisition by Nordic Capital, and reflects on how early collaboration helps set direction and alignment from day one.
With more than 30 years of experience across enterprise software and technology, John has worked in multiple roles with private equity firms around the world. As the new Chair at Anaqua, one of the first things he noticed was the clarity with which Nordic Capital communicated their goals for the business, and how they expected to work with the board of directors and management team.
Rather than focusing only on the immediate priorities, John explains that Nordic Capital began with a clear long-term view. They had a vision of what the business could become over the coming three to five years and worked with the board and the leadership team to put in place a practical plan for how to work backwards to achieve that vision.
"They were very clear about their goals and how they wanted to work with Anaqua. They began with the goal in mind and had a vision of what this business could become in three, four, five years," John said.
A central part of this approach, John notes, is communication. Nordic Capital brings a structured framework that helps ensure alignment between the leadership team, the board and the owner. That alignment is supported by both formal structures and ongoing informal dialogue, helping everyone stay connected as the business evolves.
John also highlights the importance of operational expertise. In his view, strong firms are defined by operations teams with deep experience – teams that can work closely with CEOs and leadership teams and help them draw on that experience as the business grows.
"They bring decades of experience, with the humility to work with management teams to help drive results," John notes.
John’s experience underscores how early clarity, strong communication and operational support can shape Board dynamics and support both strategic direction and execution from the very start of an ownership journey.
Watch the video to hear John Borgerding discuss how early collaboration sets the foundation for long-term success.
