How Do Private Equity Firms Help Their Portfolio Companies Grow Internationally?
GlobalAutoIndustry.com’s latest Audio Interview “How Do Private Equity Firms Help Their Portfolio Companies Grow Internationally?” features Gerald O’Dwyer. Mr. O’Dwyer is Founder and Managing Director of Blackmore Partners, a Chicago-based executive-first private equity family office. He also leads Latin America expansion and strategy. Gerald is a senior executive, business leader, and strategic advisor with over 25 years of experience across private equity, Fortune 500, family-owned, and venture-backed companies, spanning startup, growth, turnaround, and mature environments. He is recognized as a pioneer at the intersection of private equity and artificial intelligence, building SignalMate™, an AI-driven contextual intelligence system that transforms how executives, investors, and portfolio companies align and scale. His expertise bridges capital markets, deal sourcing, AI-powered decision frameworks, talent acquisition, and change management. Gerald is a trusted advisor to C-level executives, boards of directors, and operating partners, and he is widely respected for advancing the role of AI in private equity through the Blackmore Connects conference platform—a leading executive-PE community that equips leaders for global expansion, board readiness, and value creation.
In the 11-minute Audio Interview, Mr. O’Dwyer discusses these questions:
- Let’s discuss Strategic Intent: From your perspective, what drives private equity firms to pursue international expansion in their portfolio companies, and how does this align with overall value creation strategies?
- Regarding Market Entry Decisions: How do PE firms evaluate and decide which international markets are most viable for a portfolio company to enter?
- How about Support Mechanisms: What types of resources, expertise, or networks do private equity firms typically provide to help portfolio companies succeed in new international markets?
- What are the Challenges & Risks: In your experience, what are the biggest challenges portfolio companies face when expanding abroad under PE ownership, and how do firms work to mitigate those risks?
- Regarding Trends & Outlook: Looking ahead, how do you see private equity’s approach to international expansion evolving given shifting global trade, regulatory, and geopolitical dynamics?
- And provides Final Thoughts.
