Private equity & regional leadership
Regional strategy, investment assessment and portfolio value creation for private equity firms building or strengthening their presence in ANZ and APAC.
Explore investor supportExecutive leadership · Operating Partner · ANZ & APAC
I am Jose Herrera Perea: a Managing Director and CEO, CFO, Operating Partner, board leader, angel investor and entrepreneur. I bring international growth experience, ASX-listed responsibility and hands-on transformation to investors and businesses across ANZ and APAC—from the investment thesis to the operating result.
A perspective built in practice
My career brings together Managing Director and CEO responsibility, ASX-listed leadership, Chief Digital Officer and multi-business executive roles, finance, commercial growth and international transformation. Experience at Google, SEEK, Open Universities Australia, Gooroo and Open Colleges builds on earlier financial analysis at Fujitsu Consulting and pricing strategy at Carphone Warehouse.
I serve as Business Operating Partner for Lumens Capital Partners and Operating Partner for Vanta Global alongside my executive responsibilities. Through ROI.Partners, I apply that experience to investment assessment, regional strategy, portfolio performance and board-level decisions.
For investors from the Americas, Europe and Asia, I bring a practical understanding of Australia and New Zealand and experience coordinating growth across diverse APAC markets. The work is to establish a credible direction, strengthen leadership and make the value-creation plan happen.
Expertise for consequential decisions
Regional strategy, investment assessment and portfolio value creation for private equity firms building or strengthening their presence in ANZ and APAC.
Explore investor supportStrategic oversight, capital discipline and constructive challenge for boards and chairs navigating growth, ownership change or organisational pressure.
Explore governanceCommercial judgement, leadership transformation and Agile execution for CEOs and executive teams responsible for the next stage of performance.
Explore executive advisoryAI commercialisation, financial improvement and sales and marketing expertise that connect a business’s growth ambition with its ability to deliver.
Explore consultingEnterprise responsibility · Operating results
My experience extends from leading an ASX-listed technology business to managing a private equity-owned turnaround, building new businesses and coordinating international commercial operations. It includes responsibility for the whole enterprise and the specialist disciplines that determine its performance.
The selected examples below show the nature of that work. They are distinct assignments, delivered with leadership teams, boards and investors; financial figures describe the identified business and period.
$0 → $2m ARR
I took Gooroo from zero revenue to $2 million in annual recurring revenue within two years, commercialising machine-learning technology in an ASX-listed business.
Gooroo · two-year commercialisation outcome
$93m → ~$49m
I reduced the annual cost base within 18 months as part of a turnaround that reset leadership, the operating model and commercial performance.
Open Colleges · turnaround case study
$45m → $68m
I led revenue growth over two years as Managing Director and CEO, restoring commercial momentum ahead of a private equity exit.
Open Colleges · 2019–2021
4 PE firms
Work involving Apollo Global Management, The Vistria Group, Vanta and EQT, connecting investment assessment, transformation and operating performance.
Career assignments · two current Operating Partner mandates
10+ PE/VC firms
Supported private equity and venture capital firms over my career, bringing commercial judgement, financial discipline and an operator’s view of value creation.
Career experience · current roles include Lumens Capital Partners and Vanta Global
15+ markets
As Operating Partner within SEEK’s portfolio, I supported IELTS Australia and IDP Education across international markets, strengthening valuation and the foundations for a later IPO.
SEEK / IDP · portfolio operating assignment
ASX-listed
Co-CEO and acting CFO responsibilities at Gooroo Ventures (ASX: GOO), combining technology commercialisation, financing and listed-company governance.
Gooroo · 2016–2019
250 → 3,000 people
I joined Google in Europe during its post-IPO growth phase, contributing commercial and customer expertise as the European organisation scaled from approximately 250 to 3,000 people in three years.
Google Europe · post-IPO expansion
$1.07bn → $7.90bn
Google’s international revenue growth from FY2004 to FY2007 provides the context for my contribution to its European and international expansion.
US dollars · published Google company results
Selected operating outcomes and career experience. Google revenue figures are published company results; international team growth reflects my experience of its European expansion.
Reputation built through working relationships
Colleagues describe an executive who delivers operating results, leads through disruption and turns ambitious goals into practical outcomes.
“Jose is one of those rare executives that can work across a range of specialties and deliver tangible outcomes that drive operations and profits.”
“His tenacity, courage and leadership will drive significant results for businesses that are going through disruption, transformational change or turnaround.”
“He describes visions and sets goals that seem unachievable but then leads the way to achieve the impossible. Jose does this not only by creating and fostering high performance teams, but also through hands-on leadership when required.”
Selected excerpts from LinkedIn recommendations · View my public profile
Media & publications
Selected reporting and announcements connect digital delivery, commercial partnerships and governance with the assignments behind them.
iTnews
8 August 2013
iTnews interviewed me about Open2Study, reporting a 22-week agile build and discussing how the platform and learning data supported further business initiatives.
Interview / quotation
Read the articletechpartner.news (originally CRN)
14 May 2020
Quoted as Open Colleges chief executive on a partnership with DDLS to meet growing demand for ICT and cybersecurity skills through online training.
Quotation in news report
Read the articleGovernance Institute of Australia
15 November 2024
The Institute announced my appointment as an Appointed Director, highlighting the contribution of education experience and digital leadership to its board.
Institutional announcement
Read the announcementCommunity leadership
SaferBusStops.org
Protect the Journey · NSW
I also lead SaferBusStops.org, a community initiative advocating for safer bus stops and transport interchanges in NSW. It brings together evidence, community engagement and practical proposals for safer journeys.
Leadership carries a responsibility beyond the organisation. This initiative reflects the same commitment to listening, accountability and purposeful action that I bring to professional life.
Working together
ROI.Partners gives you a direct relationship with an experienced operator and adviser. Whether the question concerns a regional investment, a portfolio business, transformation or commercial growth, the starting point is your business and the contribution it needs.
Engagements are considered selectively, with a clear scope and regard for existing professional responsibilities. I welcome a confidential discussion of your priorities.