A private equity backed services business requires a Head of Corporate Development to lead the continued development of the M&A strategy and team, and to play a key role in steering businesses growth over the investment cycle.
This Board level appointment will be responsible for playing a hand-on role in driving all aspects of the deal cycle from origination to post-merger integration and synergy realisation. The Head of Corporate Development will ultimately be responsible for delivering growth via acquisitions, developing the existing team and M&A processes and controls, as well as working closely with the private equity sponsor, ensuring clear communication on M&A pipeline and KPIs.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead on full cycle M&A from origination through to execution and subsequent integration / synergy realisation.
- Drive origination efforts, as well as act as conduit between the M&A team and divisional heads/MD’s to ensure a continual pipeline of value creative acquisitions.
- Maintain strong relationships with brokers, advisors, and industry contacts to continually drive deals pipeline.
- Work closely with the M&A team to ensure they deliver on the M&A plan, to upskill and ensure succession planning within the team, and to ultimately create a best-in-class M&A function.
- Ensure the M&A strategy is clearly communicated to all internal stakeholders.
- Manage the relationship with vendors from initial reach out and communication, through to integration and beyond.
- Develop robust process and controls to ensure transactions can be closed at pace, whilst mitigating risk and ensuring all acquisitions are value creative, extensively diligence, and assessed for strategic fit.
- Lead on all negotiations, the completion of SPAs, deal structures, etc.
- Manage all due diligence workstreams, utilising advisors for larger deals, and handling smaller less material transactions in-house.
- Develop robust investment cases, valuations, business plans, and ensure all targets are fully commercially assessed for fit.
- Plan and oversee the full integration and synergy realisation of acquired businesses, continually developing the integration playbook and strategy.
- Work with the integration function to ensure a range of value creation activities take place, post-acquisitions (cost and revenue focused).
- Provide regular updates to the Board and private equity backers on deal pipeline, integration milestones, and other key deal metrics.
- Act as advisor to the Board and senior management on all M&A matters, as well as advise on and drive a range of broader strategic initiatives.
Qualifications & Experience
- Significant experience in buy-side M&A, likely with prior corporate development experience from the services sector.
- High EQ with the ability to build lasting relationships with targets and advisors, but to also communicate effectively internally and ensure M&A is as non-disruptive as possible to daily operations.
- Natural gravitas with the ability to support and face off with an range of internal and external stakeholders.
- Deep understanding of the operational and commercial dynamics of a services business.
- Proven track record of driving all aspects of the M&A cycle.
- A truly hands-on operator, with a keenness to be close to the detail.
- Excellent team management, development, and motivational skills.
- Prior experience working with private equity, either from a PE portfolio or potentially a former investor.
- Strong financial modelling, valuation, and negotiation skills.
- Ability to navigate complex transactions with pace and precision.