Private Equity Value Creation with Clarion’s Jon Haas

Jon Haas, Managing Director of Portfolio Transformation at Clarion Capital, joins Sean Mooney to discuss how private equity value creation has evolved from a differentiator into the core of the business. He shares Clarion’s approach to founder-led companies, operational improvement, digital transformation, AI, and the balance between standardized playbooks and customized support. Jon also explains why firms need to distinguish between a broken thesis and a difficult period, and why intelligent risk-taking still matters in an industry under pressure to avoid downside. This is a thoughtful conversation on conviction, adaptability, and building better companies after the deal closes—hit play.

Episode Highlights

2:00 - Early exposure to private equity through family connections and portfolio company boards

3:39 - A nonlinear path through consulting, banking, and Clarion’s early days

6:49 - Building Clarion after IMAX disruption changed the original fundraising plan

13:15 - A collections investment tests Clarion’s conviction through COVID and leadership change

20:38 - Why value creation has become the business of private equity

22:03 - Clarion’s eight focus areas for portfolio transformation and value creation

27:24 - The tension between LP expectations, downside protection, and differentiated returns

33:10 - Jon’s book recommendation and the lesson behind intelligent risk-taking