The Forum Group Launches Nationwide Investment Banking & Private Equity Recruitment Practice
February 6, 2025 – Executive search firm The Forum Group has launched its investment banking and private equity recruitment practice, which is dedicated to connecting financial talent with firms nationwide. Expanding the firm’s expertise in financial services, the new practice builds on The Forum Group’s history of recruiting within the financial services industry. This allows the firm to cover the entire financial services market. With this new practice, The Forum Group can now place investment banking professionals from analyst to managing director levels.
“We understand the challenges firms face in today’s competitive hiring landscape. That’s why leading Investment Banks—including bulge bracket, elite boutique, and middle market firms,” The Forum Group said.
The practice is co-led by Jim Minogue and Khristopher Perron. Mr. Minogue brings a wealth of experience in talent and staffing within investment banking and private equity. He has held HR and talent leadership roles at several global firms, including Mizuho Americas, Guggenheim Securities, GE Capital, and Brown Brothers Harriman. His career journey, predominantly in human resources, has equipped him with an understanding of organizational dynamics and performance management. From his roots in technical HR operations to leadership roles in talent management and HR management, Mr. Minogue has led HR functions in companies ranging from 300 to 20,000 employees.
“What drew Jim to The Forum Group was the opportunity to leverage his expertise in HR, operations and financial performance and the firm’s commitment to community engagement,” the firm said. “Beyond the boardrooms and balance sheets, Jim resonates deeply with The Forum Group’s ethos of giving back. Jim is eager to merge Forum’s capabilities with his network of friends and colleagues’ business ventures.”
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With nearly a decade of experience in investment banking and private equity recruitment, Mr. Perron combines industry and expertise with a people-first approach to deliver results. His role at The Forum Group is to spearhead the investment banking / private equity recruitment practice. Mr. Perron does this by identifying top talent and placing them with clients he is working with directly. Mr. Perron previously served as a partner with Pinpoint Financial Services.
The Forum Group’s services include:
- Efficient Candidate Vetting: Skip sifting through unqualified profiles.
- Market Insights: Gain insider information, compensation benchmarks, and bonus expectations.
- Tailored Candidate Snapshots: Receive detailed profiles beyond just resumes.
The Forum Group has fine-tuned its approach to prioritize:
- Transparency and Care: Every client and candidate relationship centers on trust.
- Custom Solutions: We tailor every search to match your specific needs.
- Long-Term Partnerships: We aim to build lasting relationships—not quick placements.
Since 1974, The Forum Group, a veteran owned firm, has provided executive search services in New York City, vendor management and consulting fields, providing clients with human capital, process management, and financial consulting services.
Growth in the Pacific Northwest
The Forum Group also recently named Jennie Joiner as new managing partner leading its expansion into the Pacific Northwest. She will spearhead the firm’s growth in Washington, Idaho, Northern California, and Oregon. Ms. Joiner brings 14 years of recruitment expertise, having worked with Robert Half in both contract and permanent placement roles.
Executive Search in 2024: Challenges, Trends, and Hopes for a Hiring Resurgence in 2025
For many search firms in almost all industry segments, 2024 has been a tough year. There are many reasons for the recent downturn, and some firms have experienced a dip in revenues for even longer, according to Tim Tolan, founder, chairman, and managing partner of The Tolan Group. “Lots of changes are on the horizon for 2025 on the hiring front, and search firms are waiting with bated breath while hiring decisions are on hold, and draft fee agreements are (still) sitting in DocuSign waiting to be signed,” he said. “Decisions are dragging, as are active search engagements, as hiring managers and leaders struggle to make hiring decisions in the environment, we are all trying to navigate.”
In the Hunt Scanlon 2024 Executive Recruiting State of the Industry Report, the numbers reflected a double-digit downturn in demand for executive recruiting, with the private equity sector being the most affected. “We’ve seen and experienced that firsthand, but we feel positive changes are on the horizon,” Mr. Tolan said.
“Working in a limited territory with a population of less than 500,000 people (Salem to Eugene, Oregon) honed my skills in building long-lasting and strong relationships with both clients and candidates,” Ms. Joiner said. “The Forum Group’s values align perfectly with mine. From their honest and ethical approach to their deep care for employees and clients, I knew this organization would empower me to succeed. Their veteran-owned status and commitment to philanthropy were icing on the cake.”
Under Ms. Joiner’s leadership, The Forum Group – Pacific Northwest will focus on accounting, finance, HR, operations, and administrative recruitment. “I aim to deliver exceptional communication, white-glove service, and transparency in every interaction. My goal is to establish The Forum Group – Pacific Northwest as the premier staffing provider in the region.”
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
