Top 13 Private Equity Recruitment Agencies in London
London continues to lead as Europe’s financial hub, and its private equity sector is thriving. Whether you’re an investment analyst looking to join a leading buyout fund or a CFO ready for your next portfolio company role, partnering with a specialist recruitment agency can open the right doors.
What Makes a Top Private Equity Recruitment Agency?
Proven Results: Look for firms that consistently place candidates in top-tier funds, mid-market firms, and private equity-backed companies.
Buy-Side Expertise: Top agencies have deep relationships within the PE space and understand nuances like fund stages, deal exposure, and LP/GP structures.
Network Strength: Recruiters who’ve worked the market for years often have direct lines to hiring managers and founders at prominent firms.
Candidate Support: From interview prep to CV advice, leading firms act as trusted advisors, not just CV shufflers.
Top 13 Private Equity Recruitment Agencies in London
- PER (Private Equity Recruitment) – A leading specialist in PE, VC, and investor relations roles. Trusted by major funds across Europe and globally.
- Walker Hamill – Experts in placing high-calibre professionals into private equity, fund finance, and corporate development roles.
- Redgrave Partners – Strong focus on leadership appointments in portfolio companies owned by private equity firms.
- Kea Consultants – Renowned for placing analysts and associates into top-tier PE and VC firms, often from investment banking or consulting backgrounds.
- Altus Partners – Deep experience in hiring finance and transformation leadership into PE-backed businesses.
- Blackwood Group – High-end executive search firm with strong private markets coverage, especially in financial services and tech.
- Murray McIntosh – Focused on placing interim and permanent hires in fund finance, operations, and transformation roles.
- Cornwallis Elt – Recruits tech professionals into PE firms and their portfolio companies, particularly in infrastructure and change management.
- Jensen Partners – Data-driven, diversity-focused recruitment for fundraising, investor relations, and secondaries specialists.
- Dartmouth Partners – Well-known for junior and mid-level hiring in private equity, often sourcing talent from top consulting and finance firms.
- Finatal – Niche agency placing finance executives into PE-backed businesses. Known for CFO, FP&A and commercial finance hires.
- Renaissance Leadership – Works closely with growth equity and VC firms to build commercial teams in high-growth tech portfolios.
- Savannah Group – Executive search specialists placing C-suite and board-level professionals into private equity and portfolio companies.
How to Find the Right Recruitment Agency as a Candidate
There are many recruiters in London—but not all are equal, especially in a competitive space like private equity. Here’s how to identify the right one for you:
Industry Fit: Choose a firm that regularly hires for your niche—be it fund finance, investment teams, or value creation roles.
Market Knowledge: Top recruiters stay ahead of hiring trends and know which funds are growing, raising capital, or pivoting strategy.
Transparency: Good agencies will give you clear expectations, feedback, and guidance throughout the process.
Network: In private equity, who you know matters. The best agencies offer access to roles you won’t find on public listings.
