In the latest sign of consolidation across the executive recruiting space, Egon Zehnder has acquired a leading New York-based asset & wealth management recruiting boutique known for delivering top leaders to family offices, hedge funds, endowments & foundations, and insurance organizations. Leo Cummings, an associate at Hunt Scanlon Ventures which facilitated the transaction, goes inside this summertime blockbuster deal.
Egon Zehnder, the premier global leadership advisory and executive search firm, has acquired The Prince Houston Group, a leading boutique executive search firm based in New York with a strong focus on asset and wealth management.
The firm’s search mandates range from chief executive officers and chief investment officers to all levels of investment, distribution and corporate talent.
The Prince Houston Group serves a broad spectrum of outstanding clients across asset and wealth management, family offices, endowments and foundations, hedge funds, private equity funds, and insurance organizations. With a bespoke, high-integrity approach, their expertise will strengthen Egon Zehnder’s presence in the U.S. financial services sector.
“This acquisition is part of our strategy to grow organically as well as through carefully selected expansion opportunities that align with our values and long-term vision,” said Michael Ensser, the global executive chair of Egon Zehnder. “The Prince Houston Group’s depth of expertise in asset and wealth management and its bespoke approach will bolster our financial services practice in the U.S. and around the world,” he noted.
“The Prince Houston Group’s depth of expertise in asset and wealth management and its bespoke approach will bolster our financial services practice in the U.S. and around the world.”
Through this transaction, Egon Zehnder welcomes a highly specialized team with deep sector knowledge and strong client relationships, while The Prince Houston Group joins a global platform of 600 consultants across 67 offices in 36 countries that offers broader reach and impact as well as leadership advisory services.
A Perfect Fit
“Search begins with the excellence of our consultants and a collective, global mindset. The Prince Houston Group embodies both,” noted German Herrera, managing partner of Egon Zehnder U.S. “We look forward to welcoming The Prince Houston Group team to Egon Zehnder and to the great things we can achieve for our clients and partners together.”
“My team and I are thrilled to join Egon Zehnder, a firm I have long admired,” said managing partner Marylin Prince, who co-founded the firm 25 years ago. “This partnership enables us to expand our reach globally, and we are aligned philosophically in how we serve clients. In every respect, this is a perfect fit. We look forward to combining our strengths to better support our clients in the financial services space.”
The integration of The Prince Houston Group into Egon Zehnder takes immediate effect, ensuring a seamless transition for clients and teams alike.
A Strategic Win-Win
“With an intensely collaborative culture that favors organic growth, this acquisition marks a milestone in Egon Zehnder’s rich 60-year history,” said Scott A. Scanlon, co-founder and CEO of Greenwich-based Hunt Scanlon Ventures which represented Egon Zehnder as its buy-side M&A advisor on the transaction.
“This is a significant step by Egon Zehnder to deepen its presence in the fast-evolving asset and wealth management leadership space,” he said.
“This transaction reflects the critical importance of leadership in driving value across financial services.”
“Asset and wealth management firms have been consolidating rapidly to expand their capabilities and access new markets,” said Hunt Scanlon managing director Drew Seaman.
“Talent strategy is central to that evolution and this transaction reflects the critical importance of leadership in driving value across financial services,” he said.
Mr. Scanlon noted that asset and wealth management has emerged as one of the most dynamic verticals within financial services.
“Firms in this space are seeking trusted advisors to help them navigate leadership performance, talent assessment, and succession planning and Egon Zehnder and The Prince Houston Group have both built their reputations on delivering those solutions with a high-touch, client-centric approach,” he said.
Foundational Partners
“This marks our second transaction in asset and wealth management recruiting, and we continue to see strong interest in the space from PE sponsors and global strategic buyers,” said Mr. Seaman.
“Search firms that combine sector-specific expertise with scalable platforms and recurring advisory relationships are commanding premium interest at the moment,” he noted.
“Executive search firms are increasingly seen as foundational partners in leveraging leadership as a primary value driver for organizations. As their credibility rises, so too does their investment value.”
According to a just-released Hunt Scanlon M&A Mid-Year Report, consolidation among executive search firms has been hyper-accelerating for the past 36 months.
“Buyers are actively seeking specialized, scalable, niche platforms that bring sector-specific depth, embedded client relationships, and strong brand recognition,” said Mr. Seaman. “They want growth.”
Mr. Seaman said this acquisition validates that trend, “and it also signals rising optimism around human capital M&A and the investment value of professional services firms.”
“Executive search firms are increasingly seen as foundational partners in leveraging leadership as a primary value driver for organizations,” said Mr. Scanlon. “As their credibility rises, so too does their investment value,” he said.
Article By
Leo Cummings
Leo Cummings is Editor-in-Chief of ExitUp, the investment blog from Hunt Scanlon Ventures designed for professionals across the human capital M&A sector. Leo serves as an Associate for Hunt Scanlon Ventures, providing robust industry research to support the firm’s investment group.
