AI Magazine Issue 1 2018

28 Acquisition International - Issue 1 2018 Heidrick & Struggles provides top organisations around the world with integrated solutions for all of their executive talent and leadership needs. Here, we provide you with an interview with Daniel Edwards, Global Managing Partner of Heidrick & Struggles Private Equity Practice. irst, how does Heidrick & Struggles work with clients, and especially with PE funds? Heidrick & Struggles serves the executive talent and leadership needs of the world’s top organisations as a premier provider of executive search, leadership assessment and development, organisation and team effectiveness, and culture shaping services. Combining a deep understanding of private equity markets with world-class expertise across all major industries, our Private Equity Practice provides a broad range of value-adding services to private equity funds and their portfolio companies. Sounds like Heidrick & Struggles has grown from its roots as an executive recruiter. The firm pioneered the profession of retained executive search more than 60 years ago. Today, Heidrick & Struggles serves as a trusted advisor, providing integrated leadership solutions and working toward our purpose: To help our clients change the world, one leadership team at a time. Sixty years ago! It feels like we are living in an entirely different world today than when your firm was founded. Businesses can become irrelevant virtually overnight. What is Heidrick & Struggles doing to stay relevant or even essential to its clients? In a time of unprecedented change and uncertainty, the need for visionary leadership, differentiating talent and a thriving, purpose-driven culture has never been greater. We pride ourselves on finding top private equity management talent by recruiting investment professionals, operating partners, and other essential senior managers to create winning value creation growth strategies. Additionally, we work with private equity-backed portfolio companies to build high-performance leadership teams. Strong, visionary, and agile leaders in key roles can be the single most important differentiator and are essential to an organisation’s enduring competitive advantage. The increasing pace of change in our world means Company: Heidrick & Struggles Contact: Daniel Edwards Address: 233 S. Wacker Drive, Suite 4958, Chicago, Illinois, 60606, USA Phone: 001 312 496 1593 Website: www.heidrick.com FindingTransformative LeadersandEquipping ThemtoSucceed in UncertainTimes F 1801AI16 standing still is not going to be a winning strategy. At Heidrick & Struggles, we are especially focused on helping leaders transform their businesses. How does a CEO move with certainty on a transformation agenda in uncertain times? Leaders, teams and organisations need to be able to move quickly and with agility when market conditions are rapidly changing and future environments are unknown. Transformative leaders accelerate their company’s performance and create value for their investors even during times of uncertainty. We help our private equity clients find the talent necessary to implement their value creation strategy and deliver outsized returns to their investors. When private equity funds pursue a deal that aligns with their investment thesis, it is critical to identify and bring onboard a talented leader who can be properly equipped to succeed with the transformation of the portfolio company and create value. Transformation needn’t mean quick but fleeting success but rather sustainable growth that begins with effective leadership assessments, succession planning, and culture building. What is your firm’s approach to PE specifically? Here at Heidrick & Strugglers, we pride ourselves on being a talent partner to the deal team and remain committed to sustained, multi-year coverage across the life cycle of a fund or deal, from raising and deploying capital to delivering superior returns. Also, work with private equity–backed portfolio companies to develop innovative solutions that meet today’s challenges while securing the leadership needed to deliver on tomorrow’s strategies. In addition to executive search, we provide due- diligence support, a steady pipeline of strategic introductions, curated thought leadership, private equity-centric assessment and performance acceleration services, and an evolving deal origination capability. Our global team includes industry and geographic experts, as well as functional experts in areas such as supply chain, digitalisation,