Grace Point Partners and BraddockMatthews Join Forces
September 25, 2017 – Asset management executive recruiters Grace Point Partners and BraddockMatthews have merged. The joint firm will continue to serve clients across traditional and alternative asset management, including hedge fund, private equity, endowment and foundation, and family office organizations.
The firm will be known as BraddockMatthews and have offices in midtown Manhattan and Boston. Grace Point founder Lisa Steele and BraddockMatthews partners Derek Braddock, Bill Matthews and Erin Carroll will co-lead all firm-related activities. They are to be supported by the research, execution and administrative teams of both firms.
“Grace Point Partners is a highly respected firm that fits seamlessly from both a capabilities and cultural standpoint,” said Mr. Braddock. “Lisa and her team, including Rachel Bethlahmy, have a well-deserved reputation for excellence, particularly in building the capital-raising and overall client-facing capabilities of leading alternative asset management firms. We are thrilled to bring our strengths together to take our combined business to the next level. The asset management industry is facing unprecedented challenge and opportunity, and our firm will be ideally positioned to help our clients address and solve their increasingly complex needs.”
Ms. Steele described Grace Point and BraddockMatthews as a perfect combination. “Our businesses are complementary on so many fronts, which gives us the ability to offer both deeper and broader capabilities to our clients across asset management,” she said. “Together we have a truly differentiated value proposition, anchored by both firms’ reputation for working relentlessly to deliver for our clients.”
Mr. Matthews said the new entity will retain the strengths of both firms. “Both of our firms are known for having uniquely deep industry knowledge, as well as for placing extraordinary talent that helps to build and transform client organizations over time,” he said. “At the new BraddockMatthews, every assignment will continue to be partner-led and executed, and we will work under our shared values of integrity, accountability, and continuously pursuing the best possible results for clients and candidates of the firm.”
Established in 2013, BraddockMatthews specializes exclusively in asset management. The firm works with leaders throughout the industry, including organizations within the traditional, private equity and hedge fund communities.
Grace Point Partners is focused on serving asset management clients. Its primary area of specialization is attracting and placing executives, particularly across the capital raising and client relationship function, for many of the world’s leading hedge fund and broader alternative investment management organizations.
Recent M&A activity
Executive search firms have seen a rise in M&A activity in other sectors as well. Activity, in fact, seems heightened across the board. Here is some recent activity:
DHR International has acquired boutique executive search firm COOPER+LOGAN. With the addition of two new managing partners, the acquisition strengthens DHR’s retail/fashion industry and functional expertise. COOPER+LOGAN, founded in 2008, specializes in the selection of senior-level design, merchandising and creative services candidates for “brand-centric” clients.
Global recruiter Ward Howell International has acquired Curran Partners, a Stamford, CT-based executive search firm with a concentration in the life sciences, among other sectors it serves. Founded in 1989, Curran Partners became the U.S. member of ECI Group, an international network, in 2003.
Global financial recruiting specialist Options Group acquired MCL Search Ltd, an executive search firm based in London specializing in electronic markets (trading and distribution), prime brokerage/ clearing and financial trading technology with a focus on currencies and fixed income. Founding partners, Maria Aldous and Charlotte Battisti, bring a combined 25 years in executive search.
Focus Search Partners (FSP), the executive search division of talent solutions provider Vaco, has acquired the Dallas, TX-based recruiters Taylor Winfield. With the acquisition, FSP gains a team of professionals with enterprise operating experience across industries including Internet/ digital media, technology/ SaaS software, consumer/ retail/ food service and business services.
ZRG Partners acquired life sciences specialist HM Long Global Partners. As part of the asset acquisition agreement, Helga Long, formerly the chair and CEO of HM Long/ RSVP Group, joined ZRG Partners. Ms. Long is considered one of the world’s top executive search professionals in life sciences.
Jordan Search Consultants, a recruiting firm focused on the healthcare, executive and higher education sectors, acquired Health Search New England (HSNE), a search firm specializing in the recruitment of healthcare providers throughout the Northeast. Financial terms of the deal were undisclosed.
Acertitude acquired Los Angeles-based Olive Avenue Search Partners. Olive Avenue’s founders, Gwen Sabo and Joann Maciejewski, bring deep expertise in the development of research capabilities, training and development, and identifying and engaging top talent. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Ohio-headquartered Torch Group acquired Selker Leadership, a search firm that places candidates in the technology and software fields. Selker Leadership’s president, Gregory L. Selker, will join Torch Group as senior vice president and search operations leader, overseeing the firm’s search practice, including research and candidate development.
Buffkin/ Baker recently merged New York-based WTW Associates into its expanding executive recruiting platform. WTW, a talent provider focused on the media, entertainment, technology and law industries, will integrate its operations into the Buffkin/ Baker New York office. Warren Wasp becomes a partner in the firm, and will head its entertainment/ media practice.
U.K.-based Hydrogen Group acquired Argyll Scott for £3.3 million. Together, the combined firms will deliver recruitment services across multiple functions, industries and countries. The acquisition allows Hydrogen to accelerate international growth plans and benefit from greater strength and depth in the London market.
Walter James recently acquired Euromedica Executive Search Limited. Walter James operates in the life sciences sector with a focus on global enabling units. The acquisition positions the firm to offer end-to-end specialist service across the entire life sciences value chain. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Will Schatz, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
