Bucking the Trend: How Data-Driven, Tailored Search Drives Growth in Today’s Market
By Eric Walczykowski, Adam Boone
Executive search has entered a new phase of evolution.
While old-school search firms across the industry continue to ply the same old trade they always have, a new breed of search is producing outsized returns for clients.
At Bespoke Partners, we are at the forefront of this evolution.
We are leveraging data-driven, tailored search methods that not only buck the trend but also drive unprecedented growth for our clients.
Market headwinds persist across a wide range of industries. But unlike search firms that have been suffering from slowdowns in company hiring, our team achieved record commercial results in the first quarter of 2024. This is a testament to the effectiveness of our tailored, data-driven search process.
Because we specialize in executive search for private equity backed firms, we know better than any other firm which leaders will have the biggest impact on value creation.
Don’t miss our Tailored Talent vodcast next week about how technology and shifting markets are disrupting executive search. Ravi Sarin, co-founder of AEA Growth, will join us for the session and you can register here.
Private Equity Talent Focus
Last week, Bain & Company released a new report showing that annualized deal and exit rate for the private equity sector in 2024 is flat compared to 2023. The analysts say that this may indicate that deals and exits have found a bottom to the slowdown that started in 2022.
The analysts further reported that the number of portfolio companies held by private equity firms has doubled compared to 10 years ago, because of the slowdown in exits. The overweight condition of the portfolio severely strains resources of the firms to help portfolio teams execute most effectively on value creation.
This of course is why high quality management talent in the portfolio company has become of overriding importance.
Breaking Records, Setting New Standards
The Bain report provides hard evidence that underscores the fact that talent is now the primary lever of value creation.
And, in fact, Bespoke’s numbers tell the same story. While others in the executive search space have been struggling, Bespoke is having a banner year because of the pressing need to optimize talent in private equity portfolios.
Our results so far:
31%
Growth Rate
Year-over-Year
500%
Increase in our Partners
Since 2021
4,200%
Since 2021
100%
Headcount Growth
Since 2021
260%
Increase in Clients
Since 2020
These results stem from our team’s singular focus on delivering white-glove, finetuned service that precisely meets the strategic talent needs of our software and SaaS clients.
Here’s How We Do It:
Comprehensive Market Visibility:
Functional Focus:
Data-Driven Search:
Introducing Our Alliances Program and Leader Community
Earlier this year, we launched two major initiatives designed to further enhance the value we provide to our clients: the Alliances Program and the Leader Community.
Alliances Program
This program creates strategic partnerships with industry experts and firms who have proven solutions for enhancing value creation plans in private equity portfolio companies. By leveraging these alliances, we can provide our clients with unparalleled insights and access to top-tier talent.
Leader Community
The Bespoke Leader Community is a peer network of high-caliber executives who have been through our rigorous vetting process or have been central to the success of our clients’ companies. The Leader Community is arranged by functional focus and provides members with curated access to best practice guides and advisors who boost execution and impact of these leaders. We formed the Leader Community because our commitment to client success does not end at executive placement. We do everything we can to ensure our placed leaders and the clients hiring them enjoyed outsized success.
Driving Value Creation
Our innovative approach to executive search is not just about filling positions; it’s about driving value creation for our clients. That means making sure our placed executives will be successful:
Accelerating Growth:
By placing leaders who are perfectly aligned with our clients’ strategic goals, we help accelerate their growth trajectories and actually shorten hold periods for private equity sponsors.
Enhancing Organizational Performance:
Supporting Long-Term Success:
Our laser-like focus on functional roles and deep validation of candidate skillsets and backgrounds means that the leaders we place are equipped to drive long-term success with a higher likelihood of achieving the investment thesis.
Don’t miss our Tailored Talent vodcast next week about how technology and shifting markets are disrupting executive search. Ravi Sarin, co-founder of AEA Growth, will join us for the session and you can register here.
Leading the Way
Today’s market may be challenging for some, but with the right strategies and the right partners, it’s possible to not just survive but thrive. At Bespoke Partners, we’re leading the way with our data-driven, tailored search methods, and we invite you to join us on this journey to success.
Bespoke Partners Named in Top 10 of the “Top 49 Retained Executive Search” 2-Years Running by C-Suite CV Secure.
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.
Author:
Adam Boone
Chief Marketing Officer
Boone has led marketing, demand generation, branding, product management, services marketing, or alliances marketing programs for numerous successful companies including Avaya-acquisition Sipera, Sequoia start-up Syndesis, Subex, CoManage, and others. He has driven joint marketing programs and go-to-market initiatives with iconic industry leaders including Microsoft, IBM, GE, AT&T, Oracle, Comcast, Cisco, Ciena and Samsung.
Boone holds an MBA in Business Strategy from the WP Carey School of Business at Arizona State University and completed the Competitive Marketing Strategy Program at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
In his personal time, Boone enjoys travel, fine food and wine, mountain biking, playing and listening to music, and movies.