Kevin Kraus on M&A
From M&A in Tech, Deal Desks, and Resource Allocation: Insights From 8x8 CFO Kevin Kraus · · Run the Numbers with CJ Gustafson
“The people who actually do the day-to-day jobs are usually the best people to do the integration. They know how the company operates, the ERP system, billing system, provisioning systems, and so forth. The downside is they have their day job, but integration can happen faster and with fewer mistakes this way.”
On , Kevin Kraus, Chief Financial Officer at 8X8 INC, spoke about M&A during M&A in Tech, Deal Desks, and Resource Allocation: Insights From 8x8 CFO Kevin Kraus on Run the Numbers with CJ Gustafson.
About Kevin Kraus
Kevin Kraus, CFO of 8x8, discussed the company's financial strategy and operational philosophy in a September 2024 podcast. He stated that "cash flow from operations is our Northstar," and that the company focuses on maximizing this metric and returning value to investors, including through paying down debt. Kraus described his approach to M&A, emphasizing the importance of a multifunctional team, strategic rationale, and cultural fit. He noted that the people who perform day-to-day jobs are often best suited for integration work, despite the challenge of balancing it with their regular duties. Kraus also outlined his views on deal desks, describing 8x8's as a "deal execution desk" that aims to speed up approvals by providing pricing tools with red-light or green-light answers. He mentioned that the company prioritizes paying down high-interest debt over share repurchases to deleverage the balance sheet. Regarding internal management, Kraus said he operates his FP&A teams with a "one throat to choke" philosophy, giving each functional leader a single finance contact. He added that he believes great CFOs demonstrate empathy, encourage continuous learning, and focus on succession planning to ensure the organization can operate without them.