John Signa’s career began as a CPA before transitioning into private equity, where he served as chief financial officer for multiple portfolio companies. His firsthand experience with the challenges faced by chief financial officers—particularly within private equity—sparked his entrepreneurial vision. Recognizing an unmet need for specialized consulting services tailored to this ecosystem, Signa launched E78 Partners with the mission to empower chief financial officers and their organizations.
What began as a two-person operation quickly gained traction, growing to 30 employees and reaching $10 million in revenue within a year. Today, E78 Partners boasts nearly 500 employees, serves over 150 private equity funds, and partners with Fortune 500 companies like Nike, Patagonia and Williams-Sonoma.
“E78 establishes deep relationships, working closely with its clients to become an extension of their team,” said Signa’s staff. “Ultimately, John built E78 to be a people-centered business that is focused on bringing the right expertise that can help companies relieve their most difficult pain points by providing platinum-level solutions.”
Under Signa’s leadership, the firm has achieved consistent recognition on the Inc. 5000 list for six consecutive years, reflecting a remarkable 655% growth rate. The firm’s success is built on a robust blend of organic growth and strategic acquisitions, enabling the integration of complementary expertise to expand its service offerings.
With Signa at the helm, E78 Partners is also at the forefront of digital transformation. Its groundbreaking Nexus Marketplace, developed in partnership with AppDirect, represents a game-changing hub for middle-market and private equity-backed businesses. This platform simplifies procurement and management of finance, accounting and technology services while offering access to over 600 third-party solutions.
Looking ahead, Signa envisions E78 Partners as a leader in shaping the future of work. The firm is investing heavily in collaborative tools, flexible work models, and cutting-edge technologies like data analytics and AI to empower its workforce.
“E78 has embraced flexible work models, understanding that work-life balance is crucial to employee satisfaction and productivity,” said Signa. “By integrating remote work capabilities, we empower our employees to work in a manner that best suits their personal and professional goals.”
Signa’s leadership extends beyond business growth. He is the founder and chairman of Benessere, a health and wellness platform, and holds certifications as a CPA and Certified Valuation Analyst. A first-generation college graduate from Dominican University, Signa’s nontraditional background has fueled his determination to challenge industry norms.
Over eight years, E78 Partners has delivered over $600 million in cumulative client cost savings and implemented 500+ dashboards and playbooks. Yet, Signa remains most proud of the company’s unwavering commitment to being a trusted partner.