Private Equity Recruiters

Our fees are customized based on the complexity, difficulty, and seniority of the search and typically range between 25% and 35%.

We offer two primary search options tailored to your needs:

• Specialty Search: Our most popular option involves an upfront fee with the balance due upon hire. It includes our 5-Year Replacement Program.
• Full-Retained Model: This comprehensive option involves three payments: 1/3 upfront, 1/3 at day 45, and 1/3 upon search completion. It includes our 5-Year Replacement Program and additional layers of interviewing.

Both options are designed to ensure a successful and tailored recruitment process for your portfolio companies and specific hiring needs.

Every client asks this question, and my answer is always the same. It depends on the hiring managers involved, the complexity of the search, and the market. Barring any complications, an average search takes between 4 – 6 weeks and we pace ourselves based on the speed and urgency of our client and how quickly they communicate and move our candidates through their interviewing process. If a client has a long and drawn-out process, it will take longer to complete a search. If they are decisive and their process is efficient, it can happen much quicker. It is not uncommon for a search to only take a few weeks, but it’s also not uncommon for a search to take several months. 

During our discovery call, we will do our best to provide you with an educated estimate of what we expect the timeline to take. We try to set realistic expectations as there are many factors outside our control that can affect the timeline.

We employ a data-driven approach to ensure our recruitment strategies are both effective and aligned with the strategic goals of private equity firms. Key metrics we track include:

• Time-to-Fill: We monitor the time taken to fill executive positions to ensure a swift and efficient process, minimizing any potential disruption to your portfolio companies.
• Candidate Flow: We analyze the flow of candidates through each stage of the recruitment process to identify and address any bottlenecks, ensuring a steady pipeline of high-quality candidates.
• Cycle Times Against Targets and Benchmarks: We measure our cycle times against industry benchmarks and customized targets to ensure we are meeting or exceeding expectations.
• Retention Rates: We track the retention rates of placed executives to ensure long-term fit and success, reflecting the quality and accuracy of our placements.
• Candidate Quality and Performance: Post-placement, we gather data on the performance and impact of the executives we place, ensuring they are driving the expected value and results within your portfolio companies.
• Client and Candidate Satisfaction: We regularly collect feedback from both clients and candidates to continuously improve our processes and ensure we are meeting the unique needs of private equity firms.

By leveraging these metrics, we provide a transparent and accountable recruitment process, ensuring that our efforts are contributing to the overall success and growth of your investments.

In 2023, we achieved an impressive success rate of 96% on our Specialty Search, significantly surpassing the industry average of 80% for retained searches. We pride ourselves on our selectivity and commitment to taking on hires we are confident we can fill successfully, ensuring an exceptional fit between both the company and the candidate.

Our success is driven by two key factors: our proprietary search process and our rigorous interviewing standards. Our proprietary search process excels at uncovering passive talent in hidden or unexpected areas, ensuring a persistent and thorough search. Additionally, our meticulous interviewing process rigorously filters out unqualified candidates, helping you avoid costly mis-hires and secure top-tier executive talent that aligns perfectly with your strategic objectives.

Hiring high-performing executive leadership is crucial to the success of your portfolio companies. Generalist recruiters may not fully grasp the unique complexities and strategic goals of private equity firms. A dedicated and experienced private equity-focused recruiter understands these nuances and can find and engage the experts needed to drive growth and value across diverse industries.

The evolving landscape of market disruptions, regulatory changes, and competitive pressures makes it essential to have leaders who can navigate these challenges effectively. Our private equity-focused recruiters are adept at identifying candidates with the precise experience and skills required to thrive in such an environment.

Whether you are seeking a visionary CEO for transformational change, a strategic CFO to optimize financial performance, or a dynamic COO to drive operational excellence, we have the expertise to find the right executive talent. Our in-depth understanding of private equity strategies, from buy-and-turnaround to long-term growth, ensures we deliver leaders who align with your investment goals and organizational culture.

We aim to be a true partner to private equity firms, helping you hire the best and brightest executive talent available. Our thorough process leaves no stone unturned in our search, and we are highly selective about the candidates we present for your consideration. We ensure that every individual we put forward is someone you’ll be excited to speak with, possessing the skills and experience to drive success in your portfolio companies.

Our commitment to excellence is backed by our exclusive 5-Year Replacement Program, providing unmatched assurance and peace of mind. This level of confidence in our placements is a testament to the meticulousness of our process and our dedication to delivering top-tier executive talent that aligns with your strategic vision and organizational culture. Our competitors simply can’t match this level of thoroughness and commitment.

Our clients enjoy working with us because we are both highly effective and a pleasure to collaborate with. We prioritize honesty, reliability, and being a valuable resource for our clients. We strive to under-promise and over-deliver, and if we aren’t the best firm for a particular project, we’ll candidly let you know and recommend someone who is.

Our process involves regular communication and keeping you informed throughout the search, providing insights that can help improve your organization. We consult on strategies to make your portfolio companies more attractive places to work and enhance retention rates. Our commitment to transparency and our proactive approach ensure that working with us is both productive and enjoyable. Why would you want to work with anyone else?

We conduct executive searches nationwide, ensuring we find the best talent for your portfolio companies regardless of location. We have extensive experience in recruiting for major cities as well as small and rural locations where there may be a shortage of executive leadership. Our searches typically begin locally or regionally, but we are fully equipped to extend our reach as needed.

We are highly experienced in handling searches that require relocation and can provide the necessary guidance to ensure a smooth transition. Our nationwide network and expertise allow us to source high-performing executives who align with your strategic objectives, no matter where they are located.

When positions require relocation, we provide assistance to ensure a smooth transition. Our experience in handling relocations includes offering guidance from small relocation bonuses to full relocation packages. Our goal is to support you to ensure relocations are seamless and stress-free, helping new executives acclimate quickly and effectively to their new environment. Our nationwide network and expertise allow us to source high-performing executives who align with your strategic objectives, no matter where they are located.

We conduct thorough interviews and assessments to evaluate candidates’ cultural fit, ensuring they align with your company’s values and leadership style. This helps achieve a long-term fit and successful integration into your organization. Additionally, we gather extensive feedback from both clients and candidates throughout the hiring process to refine our understanding and improve our matchmaking.

No. We never charge our candidates to place them. We work for clients to help them fill specific search assignments. This only works when we match great talent with desirable opportunities. So, while our candidates don’t pay us, we still do our best to ensure each person is being placed in a position they will be happy with and where they will be able to grow their career. In addition, we help the operations talent we don’t place by providing access to resources and other career opportunities.

Yes, we can help with interim executive placements to ensure your portfolio companies have the leadership they need during transitional periods. We provide experienced interim leaders who can maintain stability and drive progress until a permanent executive is placed. If this is something you are interested in, please let us know and we can discuss the appropriate strategy.

We handle confidential searches with the utmost discretion to protect the privacy of both our clients and candidates. Many of our executive roles are marketed differently and so they are not posted anywhere. If postings are desired, we utilize fully blinded postings that omit any identifying details about the company. Additionally, we can require candidates to agree verbally and/or in writing to confidentiality before disclosing the company name. This ensures that only those candidates we are seriously considering and presenting are made aware of the company’s identity.

Furthermore, we can share the company name only with candidates we have thoroughly vetted and are confident in presenting, rather than disclosing it at the beginning of the process. This approach minimizes the risk of information leaks and maintains the confidentiality of the search.

We also expect our clients to appreciate and honor the confidential nature of the candidates we work with. Many candidates are concerned about the potential repercussions of it becoming known that they are exploring new opportunities. We ask our clients to be mindful of this and to take all necessary precautions to protect the identities of candidates, ensuring their privacy is maintained and their current employment is not jeopardized. This mutual respect for confidentiality is crucial for maintaining trust and ensuring a successful and discreet recruitment process.