Move into industry or stick to PE

Graduated from Uni, spent year 1 VC, got headhunted and spent the last 2 years in mid-market PE (front office both). Both are top in their respective markets and to date I'm progressing. Team has been rejigged due to poor performance. I have some options:

Stay (don't know long term implications of current portfolio performance with senior mgmt) (carry)
Move to one of the PE big boys with the guys who are leaving (verbal offer) ( BYE CARRY)
Go to another mid market PE or corp fin (interviewing - both positive) (BYE CARRY)
Move to a sunny island, chill on a beach, become deputy CIO of a multi $bn gambling company with an aggressive growth strategy. (EQUITY YUM)

I'm swaying towards the sunny island. But it has been raining in London for a month straight. That might be swaying it.

The above is legit. Advice please. Thanks.

5 Comments
 
Best Response

Seems like there are a few simple questions: 1) Do you actually enjoy PE, or just the paycheck? 2) Why will things be different for the guys who are leaving for a bigger fund? It sounds like they underperformed? 3) Any personal reasons to stay in London? 4) Is the CIO / gambling deal an opportunistic thing, or a real area of interest?

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Thanks Peter. Appreciated. 1) PE has it's good and bad days as I'm sure you know. I've always enjoyed the post deal side the most. I think deal execution enjoyment is binary for me depending on the deal. Paycheck isn't life changing. Money is made through the carry. 2) I'll enter a pool of associates and won't necessarily end up in their respective teams. Bigger fund has bigger teams, so I'm not too concerned about individuals. 3) Personal reasons may sway against moving internationally. Waiting for hard offers before I start telling people. I'm comfortable with the move. 4) I'll be working on the business strategy, int development, M&A side. I don't know the market as gambling investments have always been restricted. This is something I'll need to get up to speed on. It's interesting because I don't know if I'll get another chance to play around with $bn company.

I interviewed with them as the CIO is ex VC and knows my team in London. They were looking for people with 5-7 years experience. Not sure what that says about them tbh going for me.

 

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