About
Ben Schlang
Founder
I spent twelve years in private equity, investing from a middle-market fund, a family office and as an independent sponsor, before taking the CFO seat at a PE-backed healthcare services company. Helping lead a turnaround from the inside changed how I think about investing, and it's why I started Crossbench Capital.
Westport, Connecticut · Emory University · LinkedIn
The path here
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Private equity fund
Roark Capital
Middle-market private equity. Sourcing, underwriting and board work across services businesses.
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Family office
Sopris Capital
Direct investments on behalf of a family office, with patient, long-term capital.
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Independent sponsor
Harbour Point Capital
Closed five platform investments as an independent sponsor, raising capital deal by deal.
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Operating
CFO, PE-backed healthcare services
Three and a half years leading finance through a turnaround at a national healthcare services company.
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Governance
Independent director
Five years as an independent director of an essential services company.
What the operating seat taught me
For twelve years I sat on the investor side of the table. From the CFO seat, I learned how much a management team handles between board meetings, and how much a board can help or get in the way.
I also learned what it costs. An employee quits, a customer has an issue, a system goes down, a crisis lands on a Tuesday afternoon. It never stops. I've heard it said that an entrepreneur's success depends on their ability to take more pain than the next person. Having lived it, I believe that completely.
It gave me deep respect for the leaders who carry that load, and it shapes how I serve as chairman. I assume there's more going on than I can see, I ask how I can help before I ask for more, and I never mistake a quiet board meeting for an easy quarter.
What I value most
Urgency
Small delays compound. I move quickly, decide clearly and follow through.
Curiosity
I ask a lot of questions and keep learning from the operators and businesses around me.
Persistence
A college athlete at heart. Progress comes from showing up every day and doing the hard things others quit on.
Why Crossbench
In Parliament, crossbenchers sit apart from both sides and judge each question on its merits. Having worked on both sides of the table, as investor and operator, that's the seat I aim to take.