Executive search & talent consulting for funds & their portfolio companies
Search opportunities in our current mandates Current Mandates
We Operate as one unified, award-winning team, with a diversity of expertise across the private equity industry.
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Investment Practice
Altus Partners has deep rooted relationships with an enviable range of Private Equity General and Limited Partners. We focus on searches for both Investment and Investor Relations professionals, from analyst through to Director Level...
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Portfolio Practice
Altus Partners dedicated Portfolio practice was created in response to numerous specific requests from our buy-side clients, who also wanted our continued high standard of service to support their portfolio companies. We have now built an...
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Fund Finance & Operations
Altus Partners Fund Finance and Operations have built an exceptional reputation for it’s deep-rooted knowledge and network of the finance and operations market across Europe...
News and insights
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ALTUS PARTNERS CONTINUES TO GROW WITH THE HIRE OF SHANNON FOLAN & SORAYA ASIF
2 days agoAltus Partners, a specialist executive search firm for the Private Equity sector, is pleased to announce that it has hired Shannon Folan as a Senior Associate in the Fund Finance & Operations Practice & Soraya Asif as Research Executive Consultant in the Portfolio Practice. Shannon will be focussing on searches for buy-side Finance and Operations professionals in the UK and Europe, whilst Soraya will be assisting the Finance Team with the research effort for searches for C-suite, and Senior Finance professionals for Private Equity backed businesses across Europe."We are delighted to welcome both Shannon and Soraya, with their wealth of experience, into business," said Ed Chamberlain, Founder & Partner at Altus Partners. ‘They are joining Altus Partners during a significantly busy period and having them both part of the team is a really exciting prospect.”Altus Partners has been growing rapidly over the past year and has seen an increase in demand for its services from clients across Europe. The addition of Shannon and Soraya will help to meet this demand and expand the reach of Altus Partners' Fund Finance & Operations and Portfolio Practice further into key markets. Shannon joins from Metis – where she focused on M&A searches for Global Investment Banks. She started her career with Dartmouth Partners. Shannon read Law from the University of Reading.Soraya is a graduate from the University of Oxford where she studies History & French. Prior to joining Altus Partners, Soraya previously working in a Boutique Executive Search business focussing on Private Equity.For more information please contact:Milly English | Talent & Operations ManagerT: +44203 854 2683 | E: camilla@altus-partners.com
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Altus Partners Tom Amos Flies to Florence For Mind
15 days agoTom, Senior Associate within our Investment Practice, is heading to Florence for the 38th marathon to be held in the city. The marathon which takes Tom, and thousands of other runners, past centuries of art, history and culture takes place on Sunday 27th November. Tom will be running in support of Mind, Altus Partners chosen charity for 2022, if you are interested in donating to support Mind please click here. This will be Tom’s second marathon after running in Barcelona earlier this year for Save the Children: Ukraine appeal. A keen runner, Tom has done over 10 half marathons across the UK, Spain and Nordics. Join us in wishing Tom the best of luck in his run and fundraising efforts. About Altus Partners Altus Partners Portfolio Practice has become one of Europe’s leading finance executive search businesses. We have helped hundreds of businesses appoint new CFOs. Our team has an in-depth understanding of the skills and attributes required to succeed in this role. We can help you find the right person for your business.
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Altus Partners 13th Anniversary
27 days agoOn Wednesday, 2nd October, Altus Partners celebrated our 13th anniversary. It has been a privilege to support Private Equity funds and their Portfolio companies with their growth. Altus Partners have worked with thousands of candidates during this time and with over 1,000 mandates delivered, it has been a pleasure to see how their careers have flourished. The Altus Partners team, the largest it’s ever been, has been recognised for their commitment to providing a first-class service to clients through several awards. Most recently recognised as ‘Best Private Equity Executive Search Firm – Europe’ by AI Magazine and ‘Recruitment Partner of the Year', by the Credit Awards, taking our tally of industry-recognised awards to seven since inception. Our consultants have formed long-standing partnerships with over 300 leading Private Equity fund and their portfolio companies across Europe and, more recently, North America and continue to forge new relationships. CEO and Founder Ed Chamberlain attributes this success to the hard work and dedication of the entire team at Altus. "I'm proud of what we have achieved together as a team and am looking forward to continued success in the years to come." As we look to 2023 and beyond, we seek to further our impact on our industry in respect of diversity, inclusion and social responsibility initiatives so we can help shape the private equity market for the better. Altus Partners are a specialist in Private Equity Search, focused on hiring mandates across investment, finance, and corporate development hires for funds and their portfolio companies. Over the past 13 years, we have built a truly bespoke service with multiple products that can be drawn upon by clients to ensure the best possible process, ensuring talented people are identified and de-risked throughout all stages of the recruitment process. This includes proprietary technology that delivers market maps for transparent search processes. A range of testing from GMA through to psychometric evaluation. And many others. From its inception, Altus Partners have had a focus on excellence and achieving the best reputation across the Private Equity Executive Search sector. We test everything we do, which is underpinned by five values: Accountable (our responsibilities), Agile (rapid decision-making), Humble (our ability not only learn but also teach others what they need), Enterprising (the spirit or motivation to take on challenges with confidence) and Commercial (placing profit second only to customer satisfaction, our belief in treating everyone equally). These values represent more than just words for us – they guide every aspect of who works at Altus Partners. To learn more about our offering and how we could support your business with your executive recruitment needs, contact us here.
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Altus Partners Named ‘Best Private Equity Executive Search Firm 2022 – Europe'
30 days agoThe award was given to Altus Partners recently from Acquisition International, an international leading news outlet, established in 2010. The Worldwide Finance Awards span the entire financial landscape, from firms operating within the sector and the professional service firms that support them with their ongoing growth and development. Altus Partners were awarded the Best Private Equity Search Firm after a rigorous judging process, which involved assessing how we support our private equity clients with their business growth requirements. As a leading provider of executive financial recruitment it was noted that our thorough, and unique, approach to sourcing, assessing and delivering qualified candidates for our clients was a major driver for the award. With our best-in-class assessment process, Altus Partners have delivered testing and psychometric evaluations for thousands of individuals. We continue to add product offerings to clients, with a focus on de-risking the hiring and identifying the best talent in the market. “Here at Altus Partners we are always naturally pleased to be recognised for the service that we provide for our clients. We understand that within the Private Equity space, a consultative approach is the only true way to deliver value to both the client and the candidate” said Ed Chamberlain, MD. About Altus Partners Altus Partners Portfolio Practice has become one of Europe’s leading finance executive search businesses. We have helped hundreds of businesses appoint new CFOs. Our team has an in-depth understanding of the skills and attributes required to succeed in this role. We can help you find the right person for your business.
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Altus Partners supports GAIN (Girls Are Investors)
about 1 month agoAt Altus Partners, we are proud to partner with organisations that deliver transformational change and support for underrepresented groups within the Private Equity space. Earlier this year, we formed a partnership with GAIN (Girls Are Investors), a charity established by a group of investment professionals with the mission of improving gender diversity in investment management. Alongside similar initiatives over the year, Altus Partners will support a GAIN event through a tailored workshop supporting U.K.-based female undergraduates. On the 1st of November, Gizelle Moodley, Head of Research at Altus Partners, will participate in the ‘Interview Skills Workshop’ with GAIN. This event promises to be an excellent opportunity for people looking to build a career in investment management and to gain feedback from experts, like Gizelle, on interview skills and preparation. Generating interest and providing people with the skills they need to succeed at the interview stage is the first step in what is a long-term drive for transformational change in the space. Gizelle has over ten years of experience in investment hiring, which naturally means she has developed a thorough understanding of what hiring teams are looking for and the standards for excellent interview preparation. She will be sharing her wealth of knowledge during this event and will happily take the conversation offline for any candidates looking for extra support. “As a female advocate behind the transformation in the workplace, I look forward to meeting the future of investment professionals at this event in supporting you at what is an initial yet critical step in your journey,” said Gizelle. You can join Gizelle and the group of panellists by registering here.
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The Route to Exit: An Altus Partners Event
about 1 month agoThe Route to Exit: An Altus Partners Event On the 19th October Altus Partners were pleased to host an online event discussing the strategy behind a successful exit. Hosted by James Clow, Senior Associate at Altus Partners, we were excited to welcome Steve Tinkler, Ex-CFO of Tonic Games Group (creators of Fall Guys) to take a closer look at how financial leaders can build a team, and strategy, that delivers a successful exit. Our Guest Speaker Steve has held various CFO & leadership positions, all within high-growth, entrepreneurial businesses, leading them on their journey through to exit. This includes Synova’s sale of its stake in Fall Guys creator, Mediatonic (Tonic Games Group) to Epic Games, creators of Fortnite, and Davies Consulting (previously Ember), facilitating their major investment from Silicon Valley PE firm, HGGC. Steve was a Director at Epic Games, sitting within their Strategic Finance Team before founding Level Up Partners, where he and his team are responsible for helping games studios get investment ready and sell their businesses. What was discussed A range of topics were covered during the session, from both Steves experience and his advice for business leaders looking to gain more knowledge on how to build a successful exit strategy. Topics covered included: Challenges faced during an exit and solutions to overcome them How to build a team geared up for exit How to set targets and expectations Key roles in a team gearing up to exit Steve’s time at Mediatonic and the Fall Guys story We closed out the session with an in-depth Q&A session which covered a range of areas. To access a recording of this session just click here to submit your request. Who are Altus Partners Altus Partners Portfolio Practice has become one of Europe’s leading finance executive search businesses. We have helped hundreds of businesses appoint new CFOs. Our team has an in-depth understanding of the skills and attributes required to succeed in this role. We can help you find the right person for your business. For more information on our services, please contact us today.
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BEN SMITH PROMOTED TO PRINCIPLE IN THE PORTFOLIO PRACTICE
about 2 months agoAltus Partners is pleased to announce that Ben Smith has been promoted to Principal in the Portfolio Practice.Ben has been with Altus Partners for over two years and has played a critical role in growing and developing the firm's private equity offering. In his new role, he will continue to optimize Altus Partners' values and drivers while helping to expand the business further into North America and Europe.Philip Hodson, Partner at Altus Partners, had this to say about the promotion: "Ben optimises Altus Partners values and drivers. We are delighted to see his success over the past couple of years rewarded by this promotion and we are excited to see what will come." Altus Partners Portfolio Practice has become one of Europe’s leading finance executive search businesses. We have helped hundreds of businesses appoint new CFOs. Our team has an in-depth understanding of the skills and attributes required to succeed in this role. We can help you find the right person for your business.
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PRIVATE EQUITY HIRING TRENDS - A LOOK AHEAD TO 2023
about 2 months agoWith significant turbulence and headwinds in the macro economy, we glance at what the Private Equity hiring market will look like in 2023, summarising findings from the latest Pitchbook and Preqin research.Retention:Data and statistics show that the industry has struggled with retention in recent years. Research shows that the average tenure for a private equity investor is now 4.3 years, down from 5.5 years in 2015 (Pitchbook). The churn rate for private equity firms has also increased, with 36% of firms experiencing at least one member leaving in the past year (Preqin).Strategies:In 2023, growth equity and value-added strategies are expected to see the most hiring activity, according to a report from Preqin. Preqin’s latest “Career Paths in Private Equity” report shows that 46% of respondents expect growth equity firms to hire in the next 12 months, while 40% expect value-added firms to do so. This is in line with recent trends: over the past five years, growth equity has been one of the most active areas of private equity hiring, with an average of 37% of firms adding staff each year.Focus:The report also found that 47% of respondents believe fundraising will be the primary driver of hiring in 2023. This is unsurprising given the current fundraising environment, which has seen a record dry powder and an increase in mega-funds.Other key findings from the report include:- 42% of respondents expect firms to hire more senior professionals in 2023- 36% expect firms to hire more junior professionals in 2023- 55% of respondents believe that technology will significantly impact private equity over the next five years.Skill-set:Data analysis has been identified as the most in-demand skill set for private equity firms over the next five years (Preqin).As mentioned above, data analysis skills will be in high demand as firms look to make informed decisions in a volatile market. However, technology is also changing the way that private equity firms operate, and this is reflected in the skills that are being sought after. In particular, 55% of respondents to Preqin’s survey believe that technology will significantly impact private equity over the next five years.As a result, firms are looking for professionals with experience in data analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence.ESG:Finally, another key trend expected to impact private equity hiring in 2023 is Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investing. A recent survey by Preqin found that 78% of private equity professionals believe that ESG considerations will be “extremely important” or “very important” to the industry over the next five years.As a result, firms are likely to increase their focus on recruiting professionals with experience in ESG investing.Conclusion:Overall, the private equity market is expected to experience a significant change in the next five years. In particular, data and technology are expected to play an increasingly important role in the industry. As a result, firms will be looking for professionals with experience in these areas. Additionally, ESG investing is anticipated to become a key focus for many firms, which will likely impact hiring decisions in the future.What should you consider when looking at a new role in private equity? Get in touch with us now to discuss your future: info@altus-partners.com
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TOM ELLISON APPOINTED HEAD OF MARKETING AT ALTUS PARTNERS
2 months agoTom joins to spearhead the newly formed marketing department to drive brand awareness, business growth and further develop the Altus Partners brand. London, 15th September 2022 – Altus Partners, an executive finance recruitment firm today announced that Tom Ellison has been appointed as Head of Marketing and will work with Managing Director Ed Chamberlain, to craft an approach to further developing our established market position. “To join a business that is at the forefront of its sector is a real privilege. The ambition shown by the team at Altus has truly impressed me and I am looking forward to bringing my experience and skills into what is already a thriving business” said Tom. With over 15 years’ experience delivering strategic marketing programs on a local and global scale, across multiple industries, Tom brings the level of expertise required to accelerate the Altus growth plans. Tom is a graduate in Marketing and Management from Keele University, previous award winner with the London Chamber of Commerce and holder of multiple certifications from LinkedIn and HubSpot. “Bringing Tom into the team and utilising his experience and skills will play a key role in realising our ambitions” Said Ed Chamberlain, MD. “I am proud of where we have taken Altus to so far but by adding a true marketing expert in Tom I am excited to see where this takes us”.
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WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE A CFO OF A PRIVATE EQUITY BACKED BUSINESS?
2 months agoWhat does it take to be a CFO?Statistics show that businesses with PE investment outperform those without it, so a CFO that can help lead their company's growth strategy is critical to success.As the most senior finance professional in a private equity-backed business, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) plays a crucial role in evaluating and guiding investment decisions. To succeed, CFOs need to deeply understand the business's financial and operational aspects. They must also communicate effectively with the PE investors and the management team. Private equity firms typically invest for a five- to seven-year time horizon, during which they seek to grow the value of their portfolio companies. This means that CFOs must be able to provide short-term financial guidance and long-term strategic planning. In addition, CFOs must be adept at managing risk and navigating through periods of economic turbulence. McKinsey notes, "The most successful CFOs in private equity are those who act as true business partners to the CEO, providing insights and recommendations on a wide range of issues beyond finance." To be an effective partner to the CEO, CFOs need to have strong analytical and problem-solving skills. They must also be able to think creatively about ways to grow the business. And according to EY, "CFOs need to have a good understanding of the PE firm's investment thesis and be able to align the company's strategy with that of the PE firm." In addition, CFOs must be able to build relationships with the PE firm's other portfolio companies. This is important because "these companies can be a source of best practices and benchmarking data." So what are the core elements of a successful CFO, broken down? Can you help lead strategy? A key responsibility of the CFO is to develop and execute the business's growth strategy. This involves working closely with the CEO and other members of the management team to identify expansion opportunities. The CFO must then develop financial models to assess the feasibility of these opportunities and present them to the investors. Once a growth strategy has been approved, the CFO will be responsible for overseeing its implementation. This includes ensuring that adequate resources are available and that all financial risks are properly managed.Can you manage risk appropriately? Private equity firms expect their portfolio companies to generate strong returns. To achieve this, businesses must carefully manage their financial risk. The CFO is responsible for identifying and mitigating risks that could adversely impact the business's performance. This includes financial risks such as interest rate fluctuations and exchange rate movements. But it also extends to operational risks, such as changes in customer demand or supply chain disruptions. CFOs must have a deep understanding of the business's risk profile and be able to develop contingency plans to protect the company from potential shocks. How do you approach economic turbulence? The CFO role also manages the business through periods of economic uncertainty. This involves working closely with the CEO to develop a crisis management plan. The plan should identify key risks and set out how they will be managed. In addition, the CFO must monitor economic indicators and provide early warning signs of potential problems. They then need to work with the management team to develop contingency plans to protect the business from these risks. Can you improve planning and strategy? As the CFO role evolves, there is an increasing focus on strategic planning. This means that CFOs must be able to understand and influence the business's overall direction. To do this, they need to deeply understand the company's financial performance and position in the market. They also need to develop strong relationships with the CEO and other members of the management team. Only by doing this can they provide the necessary insights and guidance to help shape the company's strategy. What technology is right? To be effective, CFOs must deeply understand the latest financial technologies. This includes enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, data analytics tools and cloud-based applications. CFOs need to evaluate the potential benefits of these technologies and make recommendations on which ones to invest in. They also need to work with the CIO to ensure that the technology infrastructure can support the business's growth plans. The types of technology a CFO may implement include: - Cloud-based accounting and financial reporting tools - Data analytics platforms - Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems Developing people skills As the role of the CFO evolves, so does the skill set required. In addition to technical expertise, CFOs need to develop strong people skills. This includes the ability to communicate effectively with non-financial managers and investors. CFOs also need to manage and motivate finance professionals' teams. They must create an environment that encourages creativity and innovation. And they need to be able to build relationships of trust with the board of directors, audit committee and other key stakeholders. EY comments that "the successful CFO of the future will be a true business partner, with the ability to provide insights that help drive growth. They will also be a trusted advisor who can guide the best way to navigate through periods of uncertainty. Delegate and focus on your strengths CFOs must also continue to develop their skills. They must identify their weaknesses and build a strong team to compensate for them. And they should delegate tasks that others can do so that they can focus on their strengths. This includes recognising when it is time to bring in outside expertise. For example, a CFO may need to hire a specialist if the business considers a complex financial transaction. Build a high-performing finance function To be successful, CFOs need to build a high-performing finance function. This means attracting and retaining the best talent. To do this, they need to diagnose the "talent health" of their organisation. This includes understanding the skills and experience of the finance team. It also means assessing the team's morale and motivation levels. It also means creating an environment that encourages creativity and innovation. To do this, they need to invest in developing their team. This includes providing training and mentorship programmes. It also means offering opportunities for career progression. Finally, CFOs need to create a culture of transparency and trust. This means open communication and regular feedback. CFOs also need to ensure that the finance function has the right mix of technical expertise and soft skills. Digitalisation versus automation, what is the right mix? There is a big debate on whether finance functions should focus on digitalisation or automation. CFOs need to understand the pros and cons of both approaches and make the right decision for their business. Digitalisation is using technology to create new or improved finance processes. It can help finance functions to be more efficient and effective automation is the use of technology to automate financial processes. This can free up time for finance professionals to focus on value-added activities. The right mix of digitalisation and automation will depend on the business's specific needs. CFOs must work with the management team to understand these needs and make the right decisions. The future role of a CFO As the role of the Chief Financial Officer continues to evolve, there is an increasing focus on strategic planning and people skills. CFOs must be able to understand and influence the business's overall direction. They also need to develop strong relationships with the CEO and other members of the management team. Only by doing this can they provide the necessary insights and guidance to help shape the company's strategy. Altus Partners Portfolio Practice has become one of Europe’s leading finance executive search businesses. We have helped hundreds of businesses appoint new CFOs. Our team has an in-depth understanding of the skills and attributes required to succeed in this role. We can help you find the right person for your business. For more information on our services, please contact us today.
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