In 2026, AI has moved from a future curiosity to a present-day force reshaping the investment landscape. But for many private equity firms and investors, the key question remains… ‘how do you translate AI potential into tangible enterprise value’? 

This question is becoming increasingly urgent as AI continues to disrupt industries and reshape roles, unlocking unprecedented opportunities to drive value for businesses and their customers. 

However, navigating AI strategy is far from simple. Identifying where true value lies, how to stay competitive and win in a rapidly evolving landscape remains a complex challenge for many organisations. 

Join Codurance, VirtualNonExecs and a panel of experts on 2nd June, 1-2pm BST for an executive-level briefing exploring the real-world impact of AI across the private equity investment lifecycle. 

This session brings together investors, non-executive directors, and senior technology leaders to discuss how AI is reshaping value creation both pre and post-acquisition.

During the session, we will also explore how to: 

● Strengthen pre-acquisition decision-making: Identify where the strongest AI-driven value creation opportunities sit while using modernised diligence to reduce investment risk. 

● Uncover hidden constraints and emerging AI risks: Pinpoint the AI-related threats to portfolios, and how to mitigate against them. 

● Accelerate post-acquisition transformation: How portcos and their operating partners can use the first 100 days to create a strategy that moves the business from AI pilots to force multiplier. 

● Modernise technology from risk to value driver: Understand exactly what investors should be looking for across the lifecycle to ensure AI-first technology supports a premium exit 

This webinar is exclusively aimed at investors, non-executive directors, operating partners and senior technology leaders looking to explore how AI is reshaping value creation across the investment lifecycle. 

About the speakers:

Rob Gray, Director of Sales and Business Development, Codurance

As Director of Sales & Business Development at Codurance, Rob Gray is a strategic commercial leader specialising in partnering with technology-enabled businesses and their investors to unlock enterprise value through AI-driven software transformation and craftsmanship. His expertise spans the entire investment lifecycle, from technical diligence to post-acquisition value creation, helping leadership teams reduce risk and modernise platforms to accelerate commercial performance and secure stronger exit outcomes.

Rob Gray | LinkedIn

Steve Lydford, UK Managing Director, Codurance

As UK Managing Director at Codurance, Steve Lydford is a seasoned technology leader specialising in guiding organisations and their investors to build scalable, resilient, software and platforms that accelerate business performance and value. His expertise spans strategic software modernisation, engineering excellence, and leveraging AI to create competitive advantage, ensuring clients can scale confidently and realise their full potential.

Steve Lydford | LinkedIn

Gary Pearson, Technology CEO, Newthistle Consulting

Gary Pearson is an independent advisor to software businesses navigating the shift to AI. A former technology executive, he now works with leadership teams who understand that AI adoption is not a feature decision but a structural one. He created the PACE programme, a four-step approach that takes companies from strategic diagnosis through to a governed operating model and measurable business advantage. He is the co-author of "The AI Fix for Private Equity and is currently writing The AI-Native Operating Manual, a management guide for leaders who want to stop treating AI as a layer on top of existing operations and start redesigning how their businesses actually work. His argument is simple: the competitive moat has moved. Companies that do not redesign for it will lose ground to ones that do.

www.newthistle.com

Gary Pearson | LinkedIn