{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The Executive Exchange","title":"When Sizzle Meets Steak: Scaling Water Businesses with Chris McIntire, Head of Water, Oldcastle","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":902,"description":"In this episode of the Exec Exchange podcast, host Piers Clark interviews Chris McIntire, newly joining Oldcastle Infrastructure (CRH) after leading private equity backed Axius Water, about succeeding through repeated acquisition cycles in the fragmented, conservative wastewater market. McIntire recounts his path from building Nova Analytics (acquired by Xylem), helping launch Xylem, then assembling Axius via founder led acquisitions before its sale to Oldcastle. He argues that in water, reputation, application expertise, and long installation histories often beat size, making people and field know how the most valuable assets to preserve in transactions. He advises sellers to align early on expectations and structure, and urges buyers not to disrupt what made acquired businesses successful, shifting from private equity time horizons to a long-term mindset.\n00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro\n00:32 Chris Career Journey\n02:36 Oldcastle Water Overview\n03:40 Supplier Value and Expertise\n04:22 Fragmented Market and Reputation\n06:21 People First Leadership Model\n07:27 Innovation for Conservative Utilities\n09:16 Making Acquisitions Work\n12:21 Advice for Corporate Buyers\n13:25 Legacy and Closing Thoughts","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/AhH8Oc24Ep5HBk1v4oSv3FPCbdOflcUt3HC2QFXLbGU/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS85ZGVm/OTViMGYxNjJiMjNh/YjEwMmM3YmY2MWZj/ZjBmMi5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}