Private equity

A flow of capital into the sector from family offices, pension funds and an expansion of strategies for many funds create fierce competition for assets. Investors who can identify exceptional deal opportunities and build relationships with management teams strong enough to create the climate for change are at a premium. 

Related consultants

  • Amanda Smithson

    Amanda Smithson

    Managing Partner

    Amanda Smithson
    Amanda Smithson
    +44 (0)20 7220 0273
    London

    Amanda is the Managing Partner and a member of the Investment Banking, Private Equity, Board and Executive Assessment Practices. She advises on leadership development, team effectiveness and senior appointments across investment banking, private equity and the boardroom. Prior to Blackwood, Amanda worked at Morgan Stanley; she spent ten years in Mergers & Acquisitions in London and New York before becoming COO of the Investment Banking Division EMEA. She is a certified professional executive coach, Meyler Campbell Mastered, AC and WABC accredited and qualified with the British Psychological Society in psychometrics, including Hogan, FIRO-B, NEO PI-R, Wave, G-LJI, LJI, Implicitly®, TKI and MBTI®.

    Prior experience: Morgan Stanley.

    Education: English and Law at the University of Cambridge.

  • Joanne Clayton

    Joanne Clayton

    Partner

    Joanne Clayton
    Joanne Clayton
    +44 (0)20 7220 0297
    London

    Joanne leads the Private Equity Practice and is a member of the Financial Services Practice. She advises clients across the sector on their needs within the investment team, IR and operating functions, with a particular specialisation in senior team leaders across new investment strategies and first-time funds. She has worked extensively on the firm’s Social Mobility initiatives.

    Prior experience: Freshminds.

    Education: Modern History at the University of St Andrews with a year studying History and Political Science in the US.

  • Annie Doherty

    Annie Doherty

    Partner

    Annie Doherty
    Annie Doherty
    +44 (0)20 7220 0263
    London

    Annie co-leads the Investment Management Practice and is a member of the Financial Services Practice. She specialises in advising clients across the liquidity spectrum on their senior leadership needs and strategies. Her diverse client work across asset classes has included senior investment leadership roles as well as CIOs and distribution professionals.

    Prior experience: Saxton Bampfylde Hever.

    Education: Sociology and Law at Durham University.

  • Shaneen Makhani

    Shaneen Makhani

    Associate Partner

    Shaneen Makhani
    Shaneen Makhani
    +44 (0)20 7220 0251
    London

    Shaneen is a member of the Private Equity Practice with a particular focus on leading senior and mid-level appointments. She is also a member of the Financial Services Practice, advising clients and candidates on the crossover between all forms of investment.

    Prior experience: Disaster relief charity.

    Education: Politics and International Relation at the University of Warwick with a year studying Economic Globalisation and Development at SOAS University of London.

  • Annabelle Massy-Collier

    Annabelle Massy-Collier

    Principal

    Annabelle Massy-Collier
    Annabelle Massy-Collier
    +44 (0)20 7220 0292
    London

    Annabelle is a member of the Private Equity Practice. She advises clients across private equity and broader private markets, with a focus on mid-level and junior hiring.

    Education: Classics at the University of Bristol.

  • Charlie Schofield

    Charlie Schofield

    Principal

    Charlie Schofield
    Charlie Schofield
    +44 (0)20 7220 1807
    London

    Charlie is a member of the Private Equity Practice with a broad remit across senior, mid and junior-level hiring. He is also a member of the Financial Services Practice, advising clients and candidates on the crossover between Private Equity and Growth Equity.

    Prior experience: Kea Consultants.

    Education: Business at Durham University.

  • Ben Gnauck

    Ben Gnauck

    Senior Associate

    Ben Gnauck
    Ben Gnauck
    +44 (0)20 7220 0286
    London

    Ben is a member of the Real Assets Practice and focuses on advising Infrastructure Private Equity clients, as well as spending time with Private Equity funds and Impact / Thematic investment strategies.

    Prior Experience: Public policy research and risk intelligence analysis.

    Education: Modern European Studies at the University of Nottingham; Economics and Politics at the University of Bristol.

  • Antonio Shinebourne

    Antonio Shinebourne

    Senior Associate

    Antonio Shinebourne
    Antonio Shinebourne
    +44 (0)20 7220 0261
    London

    Antonio is a member of the Private Equity Practice. He has worked with a range of fund sizes and strategies across the UK and Western Europe.

    Prior experience: Nordbridge Group.

    Education: Latin American Development at University College London.

  • Patrick Hayes

    Patrick Hayes

    Associate

    Patrick Hayes
    Patrick Hayes
    +44 (0)20 7220 1809
    London

    Patrick is a member of the Private Equity Practice and works on assignments across all practice areas.

    Education: English Literature and History at the University of Nottingham.

  • Olivia Whitely Ali

    Olivia Whitely Ali

    Senior Executive Assistant

    Olivia Whitely Ali
    Olivia Whitely Ali
    +44 (0)20 7220 1818
    London

    Olivia is a Senior Executive Assistant in the Financial Services Practice and a member of Blackwood’s Finance, Administration and IT Group.

    Prior experience: Executive Assistant for 10 years supporting C-Suite in a range of industries, including Private Healthcare, Internet Engineering and Real Estate.