20/20 Foresight Acquires Winter Street Search
May 16, 2025 – 20/20 Foresight Executive Talent Solutions has acquired Winter Street Search, a boutique retained executive search firm focused on the financial services sector. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. As part of the integration, Lisa DeConto and Scott Vierra, managing partners of Winter Street, have joined 20/20 Foresight as co-presidents of asset & wealth management. They bring decades of experience, strong industry relationships, and track record of representing premier asset and wealth management firms across both public and private markets.
“There is a looming talent shortage building across global asset management and wealth,” said Scott A. Scanlon, CEO of Hunt Scanlon Ventures in Greenwich, Conn. “Those clouds on the horizon are presenting a silver lining for acquisitive search firms seeking new growth lanes in the financial services space.”
“We are excited to welcome Lisa and Scott to the 20/20 Foresight team,” said Robert Peck, president of 20/20 Foresight. “The acquisition of Winter Street and addition of these knowledgeable industry leaders are a testament to our deep commitment to the financial services sector. Lisa and Scott’s extensive experience and industry insight will further elevate the value we deliver to our financial services clients.”
“With this acquisition, 20/20 Foresight reinforces its position at the forefront of executive search,” said Bob Cavoto, co-chairperson and CEO of 20/20 Foresight. “By combining deep industry expertise with advanced technology, we are uniquely equipped to address the evolving demands of our clients in today’s dynamic market.”
Related: Forces Shaping the 2025 Dealmaking Boom
Ms. DeConto, based in Boston, is an executive recruiter and certified leadership coach with more than 20 years of experience. Prior to co-founding Winter Street Search, she held leadership roles at Odgers Berndtson, Russell Reynolds Associates, and Heidrick & Struggles. Ms. DeConto also served as managing partner of 76 Search Partners (formerly 75 Search Partners), a firm she co-founded with Vierra that was later acquired by Heidrick & Struggles. Earlier in her career, Ms. DeConto spent 12 years in trading and investment research sales.
Hunt Scanlon Reports ‘M&A Whiplash’ As Policy Uncertainty Sets In
In EY-Parthenon’s latest Deal Barometer, the message is clear: expect a more subdued M&A environment this year. After a strong rebound in 2024, the market is losing steam as macro headwinds begin to bite. Deal volumes for transactions over $100 million are forecast to rise just one percent in 2025, following a 19 percent gain last year. According to EY, “corporate M&A volumes are projected to remain flat in 2025 – totaling 1,142 deals,” while private equity activity is expected to notch only a “modest one percent increase, totaling 407 transactions.”
Behind the slowdown are multiple drag factors: tariffs, slower income growth, fading fiscal support, and persistently high interest rates. EY-Parthenon notes, “…slower disposable income growth, fading fiscal support and still-elevated interest rates” are eroding business sentiment. These forces aren’t just economic abstractions, says Evan Berta, an associate at Hunt Scanlon Ventures, the leading M&A advisor to executive search firms. “They’re actively weighing on boardroom confidence and making decision-makers hesitant to move forward on strategic acquisitions.”
Mr. Vierra, also based in Boston, brings more than two decades of executive recruiting experience, having partnered with some of the world’s leading investment managers. Before co-founding Winter Street, he led investment recruiting for Liberty Mutual Investments, a division of global insurance leader Liberty Mutual. Mr. Vierra also held senior talent acquisition roles at BNY Mellon, Putnam Investments, Gartner, and Heidrick & Struggles, and served as managing partner of 76 Search Partners, which he co-led with Ms. DeConto.
Formerly known as 20/20 Foresight Executive Search, the firm recently rebranded to 20/20 Foresight Executive Talent Solutions. This name change represented the culmination of the firm’s evolution into a full-service, vertically integrated talent advisory firm. In 1994, 20/20 Foresight Executive Search was founded as a real estate-focused executive search firm. Over the last 30 years, it has grown to include 13 offices across the U.S.
Related: Hunt Scanlon Media Launches M&A Advisory Service for Recruiters
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
