From Deal Flow to Talent Flow: A Q&A with Vivek Batra of Alphaskill
Authored By Eric Walczykowski
As private equity markets in Europe show renewed activity, firms are focusing on aligning talent with their investment strategies. Success hinges on having the right leadership to navigate deal complexities and execute growth plans.
I recently spoke with Vivek Batra, Managing Partner at Alphaskill. Our firms share a commitment to client success via executive search—Bespoke’s expertise in the US and Alphaskill’s network across Europe. In this conversation, we cover the market, challenges of securing top-tier talent, and strategic leadership in new markets.
Below is a summarized Q&A of my conversation with Vivek.
Eric: Let’s start by introducing Alphaskill. How would you describe your approach to executive search, and what’s your current focus in Europe?
Vivek: Alphaskill is deal-centric—we focus on working with private equity firms, primarily mid-cap, and we operate out of three European offices: Munich, London, and Paris. Our approach is unique because we provide deal advisory services alongside executive search. We partner with PE firms as they evaluate deals, offering talent solutions that give them a competitive edge. We handle C-suite searches post-deal, much like Bespoke, with a focus on placing executives that drive value. Private equity firms demand urgency, and we’ve built our process to deliver on that need.
Watch Eric’s interview with Vivek!
Eric: How do you see the current deal environment in Europe?
Eric: In the US, we’re seeing executives being more scrutinous about making moves because many are tied up in deals that are either in process or just about to start. To me, that’s a promising sign for deal flow, especially now that the cost of capital seems to have topped out. Are you seeing similar trends in Europe?
Vivek:
Absolutely. CFO searches remain some of the toughest for us, and that’s because CFOs with proven exit experience are in high demand. Many of the best candidates are still engaged in their current exit processes, which makes it harder to find top-tier talent available for new roles. That said, we’re seeing more CFOs preparing for upcoming exits, which gives us hope that there will be more movement in the near future as these exits come to fruition.
Eric: One of the areas where we’ve been getting a lot of inquiries from our European clients lately is around US country manager searches. Why do you think this role is becoming so crucial for European firms looking to expand into the US market?
Vivek:
Many European firms are looking for go-to-market (GTM) subsector advisors, even at the pre-deal stage. The US represents the largest technology market globally, and for many European private equity firms, entering the US is a central part of their investment thesis. Success in the US not only offers the opportunity to scale but also brings significant recognition. A product that succeeds in the US gains credibility on a global level. The US market is both highly competitive and of exceptional quality, and breaking into it can open doors to further international growth.
Eric: Why do you think having a US firm handle the country manager search is so important?
Vivek:
We’ve invested heavily in building domain expertise and networks in our core European markets, but to succeed in the US, it takes that same depth of expertise. The US is a vast, complex market, and it requires deep sector knowledge and a real understanding of local candidates. That’s why having a partner like you is so critical—you have the talent due diligence, sector relevance, and private equity focus that aligns with what we’ve built in Europe.
And while both sides may speak English, the cultural and regional differences in the US are huge. You need people on the ground who know how to navigate them. This is why we’re excited to partner with Bespoke.
Eric: In your experience, what’s the difference between hiring a sales leader versus a general manager for the US?
Vivek:
It comes down to the investment thesis and long-term strategy. If you’re looking to establish a solid foundation for growth, a general manager with strategic acumen is the better choice. They can set up operations, manage resources, and build a balanced leadership team. On the other hand, if the focus is solely on breaking into the market, a standout sales leader with a GTM track record will serve the role well.
Eric: How important is leadership when building bridges between headquarters and new markets?
Vivek:
Leadership is key. Whether it’s a GTM executive or a general manager, you need someone who can manage the relationship between the headquarters and the new market. This involves understanding the nuances of the local market, maintaining strong communication ties, and leveraging the resources of headquarters to drive growth.
Eric: Finally, what advice do you have for private equity firms entering new markets?
Vivek:
Think big, start small, and scale fast. It’s crucial to have a clear strategy, but you also need to stay agile and learn from the market as you go. Really understand what you’re trying to achieve by entering a specific market and base your KPIs on those goals. Each market has its own dynamics and finding the leadership who can do all three—think big, start small, and scale fast—is critical. That’s where we come in, helping you find the right leaders to guide this process effectively.
Securing the Right Leadership is Critical
From my conversation with Vivek, it’s clear that securing the right leadership is critical for private equity firms looking to expand and thrive in new markets. Together, Alphaskill and Bespoke are uniquely positioned to deliver top-tier talent enabling clients to capitalize on opportunities across both Europe and the US.
Bespoke Partners Named in Top 10 of the “Top 49 Retained Executive Search” 2-Years Running by C-Suite CV Secure.
About Alphaskill
Alphaskill is a specialized Private Equity Advisor & Executive Search Firm, that creates and cultivates productive relationships between Private Equity Investors and industry-leading CEOs, CFOs and Non-Executive Board Members.
Connect with Alphaskill to learn more:
About Bespoke Partners
Bespoke Partners is the largest recruiting firm solely focused on software and SaaS companies, and we specialize in firms backed by private equity sponsors. Bespoke Partners can help companies seize emerging opportunities by staying ahead in the software and SaaS leadership market.
Connect with Bespoke Partners to learn more:
Author:
Eric Walczykowski
Chief Executive Officer
Eric is passionate about building high-performing teams that value doing their best, working together, overcoming adversity and learning.
As a proven growth executive, Eric has served as CEO, President, Board Member, Investor and Advisor for technology companies that achieved over $4.5B in successful exits.
Eric brings to Bespoke Partners significant professional services experience from Deloitte and Andersen, as well as the high-growth client executive perspective for private equity-backed technology companies.
Eric earned an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a BS in Business from Fresno State University.
Outside of work, Eric enjoys spending time with family, coaching baseball, travel, attending live events and sipping good wine.
Featuring:
Vivek Batra
Managing Partner,
Alphaskill
Vivek Batra is a Managing Partner at Alphaskill and has built their UK Practice.
He has a long international career in the Consumer, Retail and eCommerce sector, where he held various CEO/COO and NED roles in Private Equity portfolio companies in Germany and Benelux.
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