Maxime Yao Interview
From finance leadership to leading a private-equity-backed business; Maxime Yao shares how operational excellence, strategic integration, and leadership systems have shaped his approach to building high-performing organizations. In this interview, he discusses growth, innovation, EOS®, data-driven leadership, and his mission to help businesses and leaders reach their full potential.
From Finance to CEO
We started the interview by asking, “You’ve transitioned from senior finance leadership into a PE-backed CEO role. What shaped that journey?”
Maxime Yao replied, “My career began in finance, but very early on I realised I was far more interested in influencing outcomes than simply reporting on them.
Working with global organisations such as Honeywell, United Technologies and Otis gave me exposure to complex international businesses and large-scale operational environments. That experience showed me that the real impact happens where strategy meets execution.
Over time I moved closer to the operational side of the business, leading transformation and growth initiatives. Becoming the CEO of a private-equity-backed company is a natural extension of that journey, because it requires exactly that combination: financial discipline, operational leadership and a relentless focus on value creation.”
Prioritising Excellence
The UK Times: As Managing Director of Liftec Express, what are your key priorities in a demanding, service-critical industry?
Maxime Yao replied, “In our business, the safety of our people and our customers always comes first. Lifts are critical infrastructure in modern buildings, and people depend on them every day, often without realising it.
Our ambition is clear: to make Liftec Express the leading independent lift services provider in the UK, recognised for reliability, operational excellence and outstanding customer service.
To achieve that, we focus on operational excellence, investing in our people and strengthening our systems. We are also exploring how data and artificial intelligence can enhance predictive maintenance, improve service reliability and support smarter operational decisions in a fast changing world.
Artificial intelligence and data-driven decision-making will increasingly reshape how companies operate. Leaders who combine great people with intelligent systems will create a powerful competitive advantage and ultimately deliver better outcomes for customers.”
Leading Integration
The UK Times: Liftec Express was formed through the integration of multiple brands. How do you lead successful integration and change?
Maxime Yao replied, “Successful integration is about aligning people around a shared vision while respecting the heritage that built the business. Liftec Express brings together several companies whose combined experience spans more than a century in the British lift industry — moving people safely and reliably to the places that matter to them.
Many of the businesses that now form Liftec Express have worked in some of the UK’s most iconic buildings and institutions for decades. That legacy reflects the trust customers place in our expertise and the essential role our industry plays in everyday life.
Integration is not about erasing the past; it is about aligning strengths, people and processes around a shared direction so the organisation can move forward together.”
The EOS® Advantage
The UK Times: You are also a Professional EOS Implementer®. How does EOS® influence your leadership approach?
Maxime Yao replied, “I was introduced to EOS® (the Entrepreneurial Operating System®) while looking for practical ways to address some of the leadership and execution challenges we were facing as we worked to transform Liftec Express.
In turnaround situations, strategy alone is not enough. What matters is whether the leadership team is aligned, whether priorities are clear and whether the organisation has the discipline to execute consistently.
EOS® provides a simple but powerful framework to achieve exactly that. It helps leadership teams align around a clear vision, focus on the right priorities and operate with transparency and accountability.
After experiencing the impact of the system, I decided to become a Professional EOS Implementer® to help other entrepreneurs and leadership teams get more of what they want from their businesses.
At Liftec Express, implementing EOS® has helped strengthen alignment within the leadership team, sharpen our focus on priorities and introduce a healthier level of accountability across the organisation.
More broadly, it reinforces a principle I strongly believe in: everything rises and falls on leadership. When the leader gets better, everybody wins.”
Driving Growth
The UK Times: What defines your approach to driving long-term profitable growth in PE-backed environments?
Maxime Yao replied, “My mission is simple: to build a sustainable organisation that delivers excellent service to our customers, provides a healthy work environment and rewarding careers for our employees, and generates strong long-term returns for our investors.
To achieve that, I focus on strong fundamentals: cash flow, operational performance, customer retention and talent development. In a private-equity-backed environment, value creation accelerates when leadership teams are aligned, execution is rigorous and decisions are grounded in data.
At the same time, leaders must remain forward-looking. Artificial intelligence and data-driven decision-making will increasingly shape how businesses operate and compete, and leadership teams need to be intentional about understanding and embracing those changes.
Ultimately, growth should never come at the expense of service quality or culture. Those are long-term value drivers.”
Data-Driven Decisions
The UK Times: How does your background as an ACCA-qualified accountant and Six Sigma Green Belt shape your decision-making?
Maxime Yao replied, “It gives me structure and objectivity in how I approach decisions.
I’m naturally data-driven, but I also understand that numbers tell a story — they don’t replace leadership judgment. Data provides clarity, but leaders still need to make decisions in complex and fast-moving environments.
Six Sigma thinking reinforces a mindset of continuous improvement, while my finance background ensures decisions remain commercially sound.
That combination allows me to lead with confidence while holding high standards around accountability, integrity and operational excellence.”
A Mission to Elevate
Lastly, we asked, “Looking ahead, what is your broader mission as a leader and advisor to organisations?”
“When I was a child, I dreamed of becoming an astronaut, then a pilot. Although I eventually trained and qualified as an accountant, I never lost my passion for exploration, travel, and reaching new heights.
Today, whether leading as a CEO, or guiding companies as a professional EOS Implementer®, my mission remains the same: helping leaders and organizations break through their ceilings and reach their full potential.
I’m driven by a simple conviction: lasting profitability and sustainable success come from delighted customers, served by engaged employees who are inspired and led by great leaders.
That powerful chain—great leadership → inspired employees → happy customers → strong results—is where I focus my energy every day.” Maxime Yao concluded
Connect with Maxime Yao on LinkedIn
For more information visit Liftec Express
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