Spire Search Partners reveals talent market highlights in the PE sector for 1Q 2026.

Market Insights & Leadership Trends

Last quarter saw market conditions hit an inflection point. With a record $3.8 trillion in dry powder and hold periods averaging seven years, the pressure to deploy capital is triggering a surge in leadership hiring. The internal rate of return (IRR) has never been more dependent on operational execution rather than financial engineering. All the firms we know that support the private markets space are busier than ever this quarter.

Leadership Hiring Surge

The surge in capital deployment is necessitating changes in leadership. We’re witnessing a shift toward transformational leaders who can stabilize assets while also rebuilding their operations. Success in this cycle requires approaching leadership assessment with the same analytical rigor applied to financial due diligence.

  • Takeaway: Evaluate your leadership bench for their potential to drive transformation; if your team cannot execute a turnaround without external assistance, they’re a liability to the exit.

AI Roles Are a Primary Focus

Digital talent is now a top-tier hiring priority. 53% of PE firms are prioritizing digital transformation specialists, and 51% are actively recruiting data scientists and AI experts. This trend is reshaping the CFO role; the most competitive finance leaders are now expected to own AI adoption and data strategy alongside the P&L.

  • Takeaway: Don’t treat digital transformation as a separate process. Integrate technical fluency into your CFO succession plan to prevent the finance function from stagnating.

The Pivot to Revenue and Operations

As multiple expansion tightens, value creation has shifted toward organic growth. CRO mandates are now outpacing CFO searches in several sectors, and the operating partner role has moved to the center of the firm. This is reflected in the economics, with carry eligibility for senior operators reaching 80–92% to mirror deal teams.

  • Takeaway: If your operating talent isn’t aligned with your deal team on carry, they’re a flight risk. With senior operating carry now reaching parity, any misalignment makes your best people a target for the competition.

Navigating the CFO Shortage

A genuine shortage of PE-ready finance leaders is creating a bottleneck for new deals. As the CFO role becomes more complex, demand is consistently outstripping supply. More firms are leaning on interim leaders while broadening searches to include step-up candidates – operators from smaller platforms or former investors – who often bring more agility and a stronger grasp of strategy and tech to the role.

  • Takeaway: To attract top talent, update your search criteria. Moving beyond rigid, traditional profiles offer a strategic advantage to secure leaders who are well-suited for the current market cycle.

Recent/Current Executive Searches

  • Head of FP&A– $5b AUM Alternatives (Real Estate)
  • VP/Director – Portfolio Operations/Value Creation (Finance)– $1b AUM LMM/MM PE
  • Director of Finance– $3b AUM Private Markets (Eq Buy Out, Credit)
  • Director & VP of Portfolio Analytics(team build) – $3b AUM Private Markets (Eq Buy Out, Credit)
  • VP/Principal of Portfolio Operations (Generalist)– $1b AUM LMM/MM PE
  • Principal/Partner – Portfolio Operations (GTM)– $2b AUM LMM/MM PE
  • VP of Capital Markets– $8b AUM PE
  • CFO– LMM Consumer Services Portco
  • Head of FP&A – LMM Industrials Portco

Notable Market Moves: C-Suite & Executive Appointments

CFO/COO

  • Gridiron Capital (AUM $7.97b) promoted Jessica Kurys to Managing Director & Chief Financial Officer. She previously was the Chief Financial Officer & Chief Compliance Officer.
  • Springcoast Partners (AUM $1.5b) promotes Susan Gately to Partner, Chief Financial Officer & Chief Compliance Officer. She previously was the Chief Financial Officer.
  • Cerberus Capital Management (AUM $65b) promotes Matthew Kipp to Chief Operating Officer & Managing Director of Cerberus Operations & Advisory Company US. He previously was the Senior Vice President, Head of COAC & CTS Operations.

CCO

  • Pantheon Ventures (AUM $84.8b) promoted Christopher Banks as the Managing Director, Global Head of Compliance. He previously was the Head of Compliance (Americas).
  • Churchill Asset Management promotes Charmagne Kukulka to Managing Director, Chief Compliance Officer. She previously was Principal, Chief Compliance Officer.
  • One Equity Partners (AUM $16b) promotes Olga Koopman to Chief Compliance Officer. She previously was the Director of Compliance.

BD

  • Tenex Capital Management (AUM $4.7b) promoted Stephens Johnson to Managing Director, Head of Business Development. He previously was Managing Director, Business Development & Investor Relations.
  • TruArc Partners (AUM $3.5b) appoints Madison Meyer as Principal, Head of Investor Relations. She comes from Oak HC/FT where she was the Director of Investor Relations.
  • Hidden Harbor Capital Partners (AUM $2.1b) promotes Tucker Coates to Managing Director, Business Development. He previously was the Principal, Business Development.
  • Siris Capital (AUM $7b) appoints Seth Harward as the Managing Director, Business Development. He comes from Piper Sandler where he was the Managing Director of Merchant Banking.
  • Eterna Growth Partners (AUM $2.3b) Rafael Baron as the Head of Business Development. He previously served as the Head of Business Development, Technology Opportunities Fund at Charlesbank Capital Partners.
  • Access Holdings (AUM $2.8b) appoints Lucky Gilja as the Principal, Head of Business Development. He previously was the Managing Partner at CoreAI Capital.
  • InTandem Capital Partners (AUM $2.6b) promotes Lauren Mangino to Managing Director, Head of Investor Relations & Capital Formation. She previously was the Principal, Head of Investor Relations & Capital Formation.

HR

  • B Capital (AUM $11b) promoted Meagan Cooper to Managing Director, Head of HR. Previously was the Vice President, Head of HR.
  • Siguler Guff & Company (AUM $18b) promoted Lauren Schmidt as Managing Director, Head of Human Resources. She previously was the Principal, Head of Human Resources.
  • Churchill Asset Management promotes Megan Vogel to Managing Director, Head of Human Resources. She previously was the Director of Human Resources
  • Kevin Lyons joins Frontenac as the Director of Talent. He previously was a Director of Portfolio Operations – Human Capital & HR Operations at Platinum Equity.
  • AEA Investors promotes Kate Smith to Operating Director, Portfolio Talent. She previously was a Portfolio Talent Consultant.

Operating Partners & Executives

  • Berkshire Partners (AUM $26.8b) appoints Adi Gupta as an Operating Partner. He previously was the Partner and North American co-lead of McKinsey Business Building (MBB) Service Line.
  • Stuart Beck joins Trive Capital (AUM $8b) as an Operating Partner. He comes from California Olive Ranch where he was the Chief Marketing Officer.

We actively monitor evolving requirements for PE leadership, ensuring our strategies remain aligned with the latest changes. If you would like to learn more about these trends or discuss a specific opportunity, please contact us.