Caldwell Partners Names Private Equity – Venture Capital Practice Head
March 2, 2016 – Caldwell Partners has named Mercedes Chatfield-Taylor to lead its newly combined private equity and venture capital recruiting practice. Based in San Francisco, Ms. Chatfield-Taylor previously founded and led the firm’s venture capital practice.
“Mercedes is the foremost search professional in the high growth technology venture capital sector today,” said John Wallace, chief executive officer. “Her reputation for her relentless drive, client commitment and impeccable execution precedes her. For years, Mercedes has served in an advisory capacity to a roster of top tier venture capital and private-equity firms, assisting her clients and their portfolio companies in recruiting leaders focused on value creation. She is comfortable serving as a behind the scenes executive coach to early stage founders and as a trusted advisor to public company boards of directors,” he added.
With more than 18 years of experience in executive search, Ms. Chatfield-Taylor focuses on recruiting CEO, CFO, board director, operating partner, senior advisor and high level investment professional searches for the financial sponsor community and their portfolio companies across a broad range of industries. She brings deep expertise in software as a service, social, ecommerce, gaming and other transformative technologies.
Ms. Chatfield-Taylor recently filled the CEO positions for Salt Lake City-based Global Access and RxWiki, Inc., as well as the chief revenue officer at Spredfast and a board member at Austin-headquartered WP Engine.
“I am humbled and excited about this new challenge and look forward to working with my colleagues to bring exceptional leaders to high growth venture- and private equity-backed companies, as well as partners to the funds themselves,” said Ms. Chatfield-Taylor.
Prior to joining Caldwell Partners in 2010, Ms. Chatfield-Taylor held leadership positions at executive search firms, including Heidrick & Struggles, where she helped reestablish and run its global venture capital practice. Previously, she co-founded an emerging technologies boutique search firm focused on venture-backed technology companies. Earlier in her career, Ms. Chatfield-Taylor was vice president of marketing for XL Insurance, a global excess insurance, reinsurance and financial risk-management company.
Contributed by Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor, Hunt Scanlon Media
