Corp Dev to PE?

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 open to another corp dev role, but I'm wondering if making a move into a PE investing role could also be an option? I have a decent network in the middle market PE world so I can definitely get some strong referrals. If this is a plausible path, what level would I realistically be able to lateral in at? 

11 Comments
 

If you’re originally from that Area and can find a few funds with alumni. Particularly the SE and Texas seems to be incestuous from the firms I’ve viewed with odd background and little previous transaction experience of the associates and VPs.

I’ve always wondered who checks the math in the models for UG grads, do they outsource that?

Georgia/North Carolina
Texas
Northern Florida

I’m unsure about Kentucky and Tennessee firms.

Mr 305
 

Made the transition from Corp Dev to LMM PE last year. It wasn’t easy by any means due to sparsity of opportunities (interviewed for ~6 months), but it is more than possible (especially having completed a typical IB analyst program) and and significantly easier when recruiting from a position of strength. If I were in your shoes I would prioritize finding a role (either CD or PE) sooner rather than later, and if not a PE role, continue recruiting from a position of strength. 

 

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