Top 6 Private Equity Executive Search Firms

Given the stake of every decision a private equity firm takes in regard to its investments and acquisitions, it’s obvious that they attract top talent. It takes years of business experience and the knowledge of versatile industries to finally make the right decisions for an investment or an acquisition. Every deal being made at a private equity firm involves billions and trillions of dollars.

Though we all know how important it is to attract and hire the right talent for a private equity firm, it is equally difficult to land such talent from around the world. A lot of people with years of industry experience claim themselves to be a good fit for a private equity firm. However, you fail to find what you’re looking for in every other interview.

The truth is – you also don’t know what you’re looking for in the candidates, and that’s why you’re unable to land the one you want. So, would you rather hire a candidate whom you don’t think can handle the responsibilities of a private equity executive or prefer trying another option?

Top 6 Private Equity Executive Search Firms

Look around, and you can find a lot of private equity executive search firms operating in your surroundings. These firms have specialized talent hunt professionals and recruiters hired in their team who’re well versed with the industry and know exactly how to match your requirements for a private equity executive with a perfect candidate.

Moreover, these firms have strong networks around the world, which helps them pool up the finest potential candidates with great professional backgrounds and portfolios.

However, if you feel confused about which of these firms could be the best option to go with – we have made that simpler here, with this ranking of the top private equity executive search firms in the U.S.

1. Heidrick & Struggles

Heidrick & Struggles is not only one of the largest executive search firms in the world, but it makes our list as one of the best. The world’s first leadership advisory firm incorporated in 1953. Gardner Heidrick and John Struggles printed a business card and delivered it to the businesses across the Midwest, thus founding the company.

2. True Search

Global recruitment for board members, c-suite executives, VPs, directors and other strategic talent. We focus on investment firms, their portfolio companies, and public companies seeking transformative growth. True Search is also a founding partner of AboveBoard, a diversity-focused startup bringing unparalleled solutions to the critical need to bring more women and executives of color to leadership roles.

3. Caldwell

As a leading provider of executive talent, we enable our clients to thrive and succeed by helping them identify, recruit and retain their best people.

Our reputation–nearly 50 years in the making–has been built on transformative searches across functions and geographies at the very highest levels of management and operations.

We have assembled an elite team of dedicated experts who work across offices, competencies and geographies to find the best and brightest in the field. We serve as consultants to our clients on all matters pertaining to human capital needs, including succession planning, compensation assessment, recruitment strategies and competitive analyses.

4. Cowen Partners

Cowen Partners is the nation’s executive search firm, enabling companies to harness the power of human capital to fuel their success. Cowen Partners gives our clients access to the top 1% of human capital to create opportunities that accelerate their growth and market share. With Cowen Partners, clients can grow at scale, create value, and drive results with world class talent.

With our proven processes and guaranteed results, we have successfully placed hundreds of candidates in industries including technology, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, financial services, and private equity.

5. JM Search

JM Search is a premier retained executive search firm and trusted advisor to CEOs, investors and boards of directors in recruiting, assessing and delivering high performance leaders and transformational leadership teams. JM Search clients include private equity firms and portfolio companies, venture capital-backed businesses, and publicly held companies across North America.

6. ON Partners

ON Partners is the only pure-play retained executive search firm building diverse C-level and board leadership teams across industries and functions. With offices across the country, we rebuilt the institution of executive search for the way you work.