Pearl Meyer Expands Leadership Advisory Practice Through Acquisition of Ampersand Leadership Group
February 12, 2026 – Coalesce Capital, a PE firm focused on investing in human capital and technology-enabled business services companies, has announced that its portfolio company Pearl Meyer, an independent advisor to boards and senior management, has acquired Ampersand Leadership Group, a provider of leadership advisory and organization performance solutions to private equity firms, their portfolio companies, and leading enterprises. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“This wonderful influx of talent and capabilities significantly enhances our firm’s ability to support private equity sponsors and portfolio company boards at critical inflection points across the investment lifecycle,” said Beth Florin, CEO of Pearl Meyer. “With their focus on linking leadership advisory work to business strategy, Ampersand was an ideal fit for Pearl Meyer, given our similar approach to executive compensation and leadership advisory services. With this expanded offering, Pearl Meyer further enhances its positioning as a leadership advisor to boards, PE sponsors, and CEOs, assisting them with their most crucial people-related matters in support of their business strategy.”
“This deal gives Pearl Meyer deeper leadership assessment and organizational performance capabilities—services that private equity sponsors increasingly rely on to make high-stakes talent decisions,” said Scott A. Scanlon, CEO of Hunt Scanlon Ventures. “By adding Ampersand’s team and expertise, Pearl Meyer is broadening its ability to support boards and portfolio company leadership at key moments across the investment lifecycle.”
Ampersand’s executive assessment and organizational performance capabilities will compliment Pearl Meyer’s existing leadership advisory services, enhancing the firm’s ability to deliver a broader, fully integrated suite of solutions to clients. Further strengthening the firm’s leadership advisory capabilities, Pearl Meyer has added a team of leadership experts through its acquisition of Ampersand. The firm’s expanded leadership advisory practice is led by 30-year industry veteran David T. Clary, managing director, who also recently joined Pearl Meyer along with three other senior leadership advisory practitioners from prominent consultancies.
“Pearl Meyer’s continuing investment in leadership advisory expertise illustrates the firm’s strong commitment to supporting executive talent,” said Mr. Clary. “It is well documented that leadership and talent remain at the core of successful PE investments; these additions enable us to better serve the most discerning PE sponsors and their most valuable portfolio companies.”
Related: Private Equity Turns To Leadership Diligence To Gain A Sharper Edge
Among other members of the Ampersand team, Pearl Meyer is also adding managing directors Matthew Richburg, Kimberly Kroll, and Gail Wise, and principal Annie Czarnecki. “Ampersand’s capabilities are also well-matched to those of Pearl Meyer’s recent acquisition, Blake Street Group, and its two recognized leaders, Andy Rourke and Carrie Jablonski, co-heads of private equity—similarly offering human capital due diligence, organizational reviews, leadership development programs, and executive coaching solutions notably for PE sponsors and their portfolio companies,” Pearl Meyer said in a release.
ghSMART, a global leadership advisory firm, and private equity powerhouse KKR announced that funds managed by KKR will acquire a significant minority stake in ghSMART. ghSMART partners with CEOs, boards, and investors to develop effective executive teams and support high-stakes leadership decisions. ghSMART’s founder, partners, and employees will retain majority ownership in the business and the current management team, led by CEO Jeff McLean, will continue to lead the company in their current roles. “About a year ago, ghSMART began a thoughtful search to identify the right value-added investor,” said Geoff Smart, ghSMART’s founder and chairman. “This not only aligns with our strategic vision but also reinforces our commitment to being a culture-first employee-owned firm. With KKR’s support, we are well-positioned to invest intelligently to thrive in an increasingly digital world.”
“My colleagues and I are thrilled to be joining Pearl Meyer,” said Mr. Richburg, co-founder of Ampersand. “Our blended capabilities will only enhance our ability to provide investors and CEOs with clear, insightful recommendations around critical leadership decisions. Over time, the Ampersand brand will be fully integrated into Pearl Meyer, but our team, approach, and commitment to you remain unchanged—now with greater depth and scale.”
Related: How to Identify Leadership Potential in Private Equity Acquisitions
Coalesce Capital is a private equity firm focused on investing in human capital-driven and technology-enabled services companies. It has over $1.6 billion of regulatory assets under management .
Recent Investment in Valuation Provider
In January Coalesce Capital announced a majority recapitalization of Marshall & Stevens Inc., an independent valuation advisory, litigation support, and transaction advisory firm. Management will retain a meaningful ownership stake and continue to lead the business in partnership with Coalesce. Founded in 1932, Marshall & Stevens has been a leader in the valuation and appraisal industry for nearly a century. The firm provides valuation advisory, litigation support, and transaction advisory services to public and private companies, investors, individuals, and advisors on mergers, acquisitions, financings, and ESOPs, as well as estates, divorces, and commercial litigation. Coalesce will support Marshall & Stevens’ continued growth through investments in talent development, technology, and strategic acquisitions to further expand the firm’s service capabilities to customers.
“Marshall & Stevens has built an exceptional reputation as one of the most trusted independent valuation firms in the market,” said Mark Santarsiero, president and CEO of Marshall & Stevens. “Our partnership with Coalesce gives us the insight and capital to build on the nine acquisitions we’ve completed since 2023 to create a full-service platform that can provide a comprehensive portfolio of services to our customers. Coalesce’s transformational capabilities demonstrate the power of this strategy to build market-leading platforms in professional services.”
“We’re seeing a powerful and durable megatrend driving demand for specialty Office of the CFO services as companies increasingly need support navigating complex financial, regulatory, and transactional challenges,” said Stephanie Geveda, founder and managing partner at Coalesce Capital. “This aligns squarely with our longstanding investment thesis that valuation advisory services have become non-discretionary through changing economic environments. Marshall & Stevens is exceptionally well-positioned for growth, and we’re excited to partner with Mark and the management team to capture the opportunity in what remains a highly fragmented and regionalized industry.”
Related: KPMG Finds Success in M&A Remains Stacked Against Acquirers. Here’s Why.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
