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®. She read English and then Law at Cambridge University.

  • Joanne Clayton

    Joanne Clayton

    Partner

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

    Joanne is a Partner and member of the Financial Service Practice. She advises clients across private equity and broader private markets 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 to joining Blackwood, Joanne worked at Freshminds focusing on placing strategy consultants. She read Modern History at St Andrews University and spent 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 is a Partner and 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 to joining Blackwood, Annie worked at Saxton Bampfylde Hever. She read Sociology and Law at Durham University.

  • Nigel Lloyd

    Nigel Lloyd

    Associate Partner

    Nigel Lloyd
    Nigel Lloyd
    +44 (0)20 7220 0284
    London

    Nigel is a member of the Private Equity and Investment Banking Practices. He focuses on recruiting senior Investment Banking professionals across M&A, sector coverage and Leveraged Finance. Within Private Equity he specialises in Investor Relations appointments. Prior to joining Blackwood, Nigel gained over a decade’s experience of search with a global executive search firm as a member of the Financial Services practice. He began his career in Investment Banking with Close Brothers (now DC Advisory), executing both M&A and Restructuring mandates. He read English Literature at University College London.

  • 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 mid-level appointments. She is also a member of the Financial Services Practice advising clients and candidates on the cross over between all forms of investment. Prior to joining Blackwood, Shaneen worked for a disaster relief charity, focusing on fundraising. She read Politics and International Relations at Warwick University, and then spent a year studying Economic Globalisation and Development at SOAS, University of London.