IB to Corp Dev then back to IB?

I started my career at a middle market IB before leaving as a third year analyst to join an acquisitive Corp Dev team (publicly traded healthcare company). I stayed there for ~5 years, making it to the Sr. Manger level before leaving to join a PE-backed enterprise software company (~200m revenue) as a Director of Corp Dev. The company was severely impacted by the tech market headwinds and ended up pulling the plug on M&A and laying off my team (in addition to many others). I sourced, closed, and integrated 2 tuck-in acqusitions, but the broader roll-up play never came to fruition.

I'm really craving more deal volume and a stimulating work environment. Is there a path back into middle market IB? If so, how realistic is it and what level roles should I be targeting?   

4 Comments
 

Why would you come back to IB after 5+ years in Corp Dev?

You likely wouldn’t get a VP position so it’d be a setback progression wise. I’d imagine you’d be at a good comp number right now so you aren’t hurting financially.

Why not just join another healthcare or tech company or whatever at a similar position u were at prior to being laid off?

 

Would you be going in as a senior associate? If so what would the comp be like compared to the other role? Have thought about going into corp dev as well but unsure what comp is like

 
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