Kingsley Gate Partners Acquires Israeli-Based Everest Search Partners

January 9, 2020 – Acquisitions continue to make news in the recruiting industry, with a number of notable purchases in recent months. Recently, Kingsley Gate Partners acquired Everest Search Partners, an Israeli-based boutique executive search firm. Financial terms of the deal were undisclosed.

Jeff Shapiro and Noam Eisenberg have joined Kingsley Gate Partners as senior partners based in Tel Aviv. Founded in 2005 and based in Tel-Aviv, Everest Search Partners specializes in recruiting C-level and VP executives across the technology and life sciences spectrum. Everest Search Partners uniquely concentrates on Israeli-founded companies around the world, focusing on seeking out the best fitting and most experienced executives in all functional areas.

As Kingsley Gate Partners continues to expand, the acquisition of Everest Search Partners represents an important addition. “Tel Aviv is currently one the most important tech centers globally for doing business,” said Nancy Albertini, office of the CEO, Kingsley Gate Partners. “Noam and Jeff are world-class professionals with extensive search expertise, and we couldn’t be more excited to have them strengthen and expand our presence in Israel and the region.”

Mr. Shapiro’s career in executive search spans over two decades. He specializes in recruiting board directors, CEO, CFOs, CIO/CTOs and VPs of sales, marketing, business development and engineering, among other functions. Previously he worked at international search firms, including CTPartners, Korn Ferry and Egon Zehnder, where he was responsible for securing, leading and executing retained executive search assignments.

Mr. Eisenberg brings over 20 years of professional experience in executive search, focusing on quality client experience and results. He has a reputation for delivering top talent for senior-level positions across a broad range of industries and companies. Drawing on his global experience and network, he understands clients’ corporate and cultural needs, enabling them to establish a strong global presence. Before founding Everest Search Partners, Mr. Eisenberg led his own executive search practice where he worked with leading VCs and boards of directors to build global management teams for early and late-stage companies. He started his executive search career at Christian & Timbers in 1998.

“Kingsley Gate Partners is at the forefront of the fast-changing executive recruiting landscape,” said Messrs. Shapiro and Eisenberg. “They’ve built some of the most impressive technology and combined it with world-class methodology. We knew that we could leverage it to deliver the highest quality service to our clients. We are thrilled to be part of this exciting expansion.”

Founded in 2006, Kingsley Gate Partners recruits senior leadership for private equity and venture capital portfolio businesses and Fortune 100 companies. Headquartered in Dallas, the firm employs consultants and recruiters with expertise in private equity, life sciences, technology manufacturing and professional services. Its clients include Best Buy, CenturyLink, Ernst & Young, Here, Ford, Ingram Micro, Medtronic, Neustar, Veritas and Warburg Pincus.

Recent M&A activity

Acquisitions have kept the executive search industry in a state of flux. Here’s a sampling of recent acquisitions taken from the Hunt Scanlon Media archives:

ZRG Partners acquired Toft Group, a smaller rival focused on the life sciences and biotech sectors. Toft Group will operate as a ZRG company, focused on supporting client needs for senior life science professionals. The transaction will add about $10 million in annual revenues to ZRG and bolster the firm’s direct presence in the global life science sector in which it maintains a strong market presence in the top tier pharma space. With this acquisition, ZRG will report revenues anticipated to exceed $65 million in 2019 and will have over 200 global team members. Robin Toft, founder and chair of the Toft Group, will continue in her role with the firm where she will build out the platform and help with growth at ZRG as a senior leader.

Heidrick & Struggles acquired Brazil-headquartered search firm 2GET. With offices in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, 2GET has 50 employees, including 13 consultants. The firm was founded in 2009. Paulo Mendes, a founder and executive board member of 2GET, will lead the newly combined Heidrick & Struggles operation in Brazil.

Diversified Search, backed by investment dollars from private equity firm ShoreView Industries, has acquired Koya Leadership Partners, one of the nation’s top search firms in non-profit and higher education. Katie Bouton, Koya’s founder and CEO, will assume the role of president of Diversified Search.

Spencer Stuart has acquired MERC Partners, a leading executive search and leadership consulting firm based in Ireland. The addition of MERC Partners marks Spencer Stuart’s first client-facing team in Ireland and represents an important addition for its EMEA and global business.

ZRG Partners acquired London-headquartered search firm Holker Watkin. The firm will operate as a ZRG company, focused on supporting client needs for senior-level strategy professionals on a retained and interim project basis. The transaction is expected to add $11 million in annual revenues to ZRG and bolster ZRG’s direct presence in Europe.