Corporate Development - Exit Ops
Hi WSO - I'm hoping to gain some insight into possible exit opportunities from corporate development at a portfolio company.
I worked my way into CD through FP&A/Corporate Finance. I went to a target school, but I did not use that to its full potential and go the IB/PE route which I regret in hindsight. (I started out in accounting).
I am currently a CD Manager in the Industrials sector with a solid path to Director within the next 2-3 years. I am at a middle market company executing a roll-up strategy. I will probably have 20 deals under my belt by the time I would be promoted to the Director level. I handle everything from overall M&A strategy, financial modeling, due diligence, and post-merger integration. I also get involved in some other related tasks - e.g. capital raising for our M&A.
I have a ton of high-level exposure to C-Suite and I genuinely enjoy my job, but I do wonder what else is possible. Is there any path to a role in PE from CD or am I basically locked out by not having gone through IB?
Are there any interesting paths anyone can reference for those who did a stint in corporate development, but ultimately moved on?
BGR999, pure crickets, that's where I come in. Any of these useful?
More suggestions...
Fingers crossed that one of those helps you.
Bump
Bump
Bump
I’m not sure if I’m the one to talk but it sounds like you have much more unique even relevant experience than most people who have gone IB->PE. I don’t see why you couldn’t be a hire for many firms looking for operators, or perhaps start your own firm down the line (or search fund). However, from what I know about PE hiring you would be an atypical older hire so you may actually be brought in at a lower title until you learned the ropes. An alternative would be to go to b-school which from what it sounds like would be M7 then go on as a VP or something.
Can someone else chime in?
Labore sit nam consectetur maiores illo iusto. Culpa ducimus consequuntur quis assumenda assumenda et. Consequatur corrupti et qui accusamus aliquam. Repellat mollitia quis iure est.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...