Spire Search Partners reveals talent market highlights in the PE sector for 4Q 2024.

Key Trends We Saw in 2024

Happy New Year to you! The optimism that has been steadily increasing over the past 18 months is coming to fruition:

  • 2024 saw a significant rise in LBO-related loan volume, and the mood on the front lines is positive and eager. As of July, there is $2.62 trillion in dry powder; a surge in activity is anticipated in 2025 after two slower years. Private equity deals increased in the second half of the year, showing rising enthusiasm. We saw new searches and discussions about 2025 talent needs pick up post-election; some are new additions to growing teams, some are replacements/top-grading. Expectations are a much better (expected) Q1 than 2024 and a demand-driven increase in compensation packages.
  • We are seeing PE firms working to adapt to complexities like expanded portfolios, longer holding periods, global reach, evolving sector landscapes, and increasing expectations from LPs and regulators.
  • Firms continue to integrate AI and data analytics into their operations to improve deal sourcing, due diligence, valuations, and portfolio management. This shift is expected to accelerate decision-making, boost productivity, and strengthen risk management. Data-driven strategies became essential for value creation last year with new AI capabilities driving an effort to uncover returns from unexpected areas.
  • Hiring demand: There are notable hot spots for talent in the CFO’s office and across Value Creation (Portfolio Ops), specifically in Talent Management, Integrations, Financial Operations, and various functions within Portco Finance such as FP&A, Finance, M&A, and CFO roles. Increased requirements for transparency and insight by investors and regulators is driving more robust frameworks under the CFO.

Top Posts from Q4-24

  • The Chief of Staff role has become indispensable in PE portcos, serving as a strategic partner to enhance efficiency and organizational cohesion. A HuntScanlon article details essential attributes of a successful CoS and common pitfalls to avoid.
  • In our experience, many PE firms underestimate the power of human capital as a key driver of value creation. As this article points out, executive coaching (a service we offer) can significantly enhance leadership effectiveness, drive team alignment, and ultimately maximize returns. By focusing on human dynamics, firms can accelerate growth and boost operational efficiency.
  • We’re happy to announce this past October marks the 17th anniversary of Spire Search Partners. In our anniversary blog post, we share some key lessons we’ve learned: the power of relationships, the importance of persistence, and the value of continuous learning.

Work Anniversaries (Past Placements)

  • Derek Hernandez marks two years at Pitchbook – we placed him into their Emerging Tech Research team producing insights and analytics for VC/PE investors
  • Andy Bedenk celebrates his first year at Shoreline Equity Partners – we placed him under the Managing Partner as the firm’s first Value Creation/Portfolio Ops leader responsible for building and executing an integrations playbook for their platform investments.

Notable Market Moves

Port Ops

  • Blue Point Capital Partners appoints Kim Katzenberger as Operating Partner – Finance. He comes from The Riverside Company where he served as the Group Chief Financial Officer.
  • Vadim Firfa joins CSC Leasing as Director of Originations. He comes from Shore Capital Partners where he was the Operating Executive.
  • Arcline Investment Management hires Christopher Guinn as Operating Partner. He previously served as the Operating Partner at HGGC.

CFO

  • Goldner Hawn appoints Rohit Subramaniam as Chief Financial Officer. He previously was a Partner at RSM US.
  • Paul Kreger joins Northern Shore Capital as Chief Financial Officer. He comes from Center Rock Capital Partners where he was the Fund Controller.
  • KOHO hires Kelly Brink as Chief Financial Officer. She previously was Chief Financial Officer at Orchard.
  • Kathleen McGlynn joins Reckoner Capital Management as Chief Financial Officer. She comes from BlackRock where she was the Director of US Private Capital.
  • Kevin Bissell joins Haun Ventures as Chief Financial Officer. He comes from NFX where he was the Chief Financial Officer.
  • Joseph Rivera joins Egyptian American Enterprise Fund as Chief Financial Officer. He comes from Hurricane Capital where he was the Senior Controller.
  • TruStage appoints Jon Winderman as Chief Financial Officer. He previously was the Chief Financial Officer, Group Benefits at Guardian Life.
  • Velocity Capital Management hires Allison Miyake as Chief Compliance Officer. She was previously the Chief Financial Officer at Clarendon Capital.
  • Neuberger Berman appoints Christophe Palazzi as Vice President – Valuations, Private Equity & Alternative assets. He comes from Millennium where he served as Head of Private Valuations.

COO

  • Forum Ventures promotes Olivia O’Sullivan as Partner & Chief Operating Officer. She previously was a Partner.
  • Alpha Square Group appoints Maggie Zhou as Chief Operating Officer. She comes from Titanium Ventures where she was a Strategic Portfolio Partner.
  • Caduceus Capital Partners promotes Lindsay Valdez to Chief Operating Officer. She previously was Vice President of Finance and Operations.
  • Aquiline promotes Carly Jaye Arluke to Chief Operating Officer.
  • E2p promotes LeAnn Kilarski to Chief Operating Officer & Chief Compliance Officer. She previously was the Chief Compliance Officer.
  • Virginia Venture Fund promotes Ryan Miller as Chief Operating Officer. He previously was a Project Lead.
  • Climate Fund Managers appoints Alison Wood as Chief Operations Officer. She previously was the Chief Risk Officer at Macquarie Asset Management.

BD/IR

  • Techstars promotes Chelsea Rogers to Director, Investor Relations / Fund Management. She previously was Fund Manager.
  • Joan Tan joins Panacea Venture as Head of Investor Relations. She comes from Harris Williams where she was the Managing Director, Head of Asia (Distribution & Origination).
  • Andreessen Horowitz hires Megan Casey as Partner, Investor Relations. She previously was the Chief Marketing Officer at NFX.
  • Audax Private Equity promotes Nick Kelly to Managing Director, Investor Relations. He previously was the Senior Vice President of Investor Relations.
  • General Catalyst promotes Courtney Celona to Director, Investor Relations. She previously was Manager, Investor Relations.
  • Axium Infrastructure appoints Alexandra Talerman as Director, Investor Relations. She comes from Monument Group where she was the Vice President.
  • Cove Hill Partners promotes Alex Jannotta Dodyk to Head of Investor Relations & People. She previously was the Director of Investor Relations & People.
  • Shaan Sabharwal joins Virginia Venture Fund as Director of Investor Relations. He previously was Private Equity Analyst at Wickdale Capital.

HR/Talent

  • Vista Equity Partners promotes Stephanie Richard to Director, Human Resources. She previously was Senior Human Resources Business Partner.
  • KPS Capital Partners appoints Wilma Nacion as Managing Director, Global Head of Human Resources. She comes from Madison Realty Capital where she was Chief Human Resources Officer.
  • Audax Private Equity promotes Molly Lawrence to Vice President, Talent Management & Development. She previously was Director, Talent Management & Development.
  • RedHawk Ventures promotes Liam McAllister as Director of Talent. He previously was an Investment Analyst.
  • Meghan Gault joins CAIS as Chief People Officer. She comes from Abacum where she was the Chief People Officer.

Recent Searches

  • Director – Finance/FP&A @ $2.5b Private Markets Firm; adding senior leadership under the CFO
  • Head of Finance @ Series B SaaS; First Financial leadership hire
  • Director of Performance & Verification @ Private Markets Consulting; specialty consulting firm catering to Private Markets
  • Head of Marketing Compliance @ Private Markets Firm;building out key compliance capabilities
  • Global Head of IR & Capital Formation @ HRA; recently launched infrastructure fund specialized in aviation, adding a seasoned leader to own investor relationships and raising new capital
  • VP/Dir – Fund & Portfolio Management @ $2B Private Credit/Equity Fund; lower mid-market, multi-sector investor
  • Mid-Market & PE Research/Analytics (Valuations) @ Pitchbook Data; team build leadership across credit, mid-market eq and PE Industry.