Headhunter List

Based on the most helpful WSO content, here’s a consolidated list of private equity headhunters and their client coverage. This should help you identify who to reach out to:

Top Headhunters and Their Coverage

Henkel Search Partners (HSP)

• Known for covering many of the largest and most prestigious firms.
• Clients include: AEA, Anchorage, Ares Direct Lending, Audax, BC Partners, BDT, Blackrock Infrastructure, Blackstone (Energy), Carlyle (NY, DC, Menlo offices), CD&R, KKR (all groups across all offices), Roark Capital, TPG (Growth/Rise), Veritas, Vista, Warburg Pincus.

CPI

• Highly regarded with a strong client list.
• Unique feature: They may ask paper LBO questions or give a small case study during intro meetings.
• Clients include: Advent, American Securities, Ares, Berkshire Partners, Cerberus, CVC (Capital and Growth), EQT, GIC, Hellman & Friedman, Insight Partners, Madison Dearborn, Metalmark Capital, New Mountain Capital, Oak Hill, Onex, Providence Equity, Silver Lake, Stone Point, Sycamore, TA Associates, Thomas H. Lee, Trilantic, Vistria, Welsh Carson.

Dynamics Search Partners (DSP)

• Covers a mix of top buyout and hedge fund clients.
• Clients include: Apax Partners, Citadel, Coatue, Farallon, GI Partners, GTCR, Leonard Green, Maverick Capital.

Gold Coast Search Partners

• Despite the name, they cover more than just West Coast clients.
• Strong coverage across tech.

CarterPierce

• Under-the-radar but effective.
• Clients include: Accel-KKR, Aurora Capital, Freeman Spogli, Marlin Equity Partners, Oaktree, Odyssey Investment Partners, Platinum Equity, Spectrum Equity, Valor Equity Partners.

Bellcast Partners

• Focused on middle-market (MM) names.
• Known for being personal and collaborative, with less interview-like intro meetings.
• Clients include: Bain Capital Double Impact, Harvest Partners, HGGC, Siris Capital.

SG Partners

• Legacy client: Blackstone.
• Sparse coverage beyond Blackstone.

Ratio Advisors

• Specializes in tech, VC, and growth investing.
• Clients include: Abry Partners, Apollo (incl. NR and Hybrid Value), Atairos, Bessemer, CapitalG, Charlesbank, Centana Growth Partners, Cove Hill, Francisco Partners, General Atlantic, Golden Gate Capital, JMI Equity, Lindsay Goldberg.

How to Reach Out

• Most headhunters have team pages with emails available on their websites.
• Reach out to an associate via email, expressing your interest in recruiting and requesting an intro call. Headhunters are incentivized to talk to you since they get paid when they place you.

This list should give you a strong starting point to strategize your outreach!

Sources: 2022 Private Equity Headhunter Coverage, 2022 Private Equity Headhunter Coverage