Sector Coverage
Leathwaite partners with clients to deliver executive search and leadership talent across a broad spectrum of industry sectors.
Increasingly clients need to gain a global perspective on leadership talent, often hiring from different global locations and industry sectors.
Leathwaite’s global footprint enables it to access a diverse range of talent across the world, ensuring our clients can recruit the very best leaders to meet their strategic needs.
Asset Management
We partner with leading global investment and asset management firms, ranging from start-ups and SMEs to multi-national, top 10 AUM organisations.
Leathwaite has conducted over 250 assignments for these businesses, spanning multiple geographies and operating across the ExCo. We pride ourselves on understanding the culture and sensitivities of our asset management clients, replicating the often private nature of their operations in our own working practices.
A Selection Of Recent Executive Appointments:
- Head of Internal Audit, London
- CIO, London
- Head of Operational & Busines Risk, Frankfurt
- European HRD, Brussels
- APAC Head of Compliance, Hong Kong
- CIO, APAC Private Wealth Management, Hong Kong
Commerce & Industry
Talent moves quickly between commerce and industry sectors; the war for talent is fierce. Our coverage of sectors such as automotive, retail and telecommunications complements our other industries neatly, particularly within areas such as cyber security, data, digital, operations and technology.
Leathwaite partners with our clients to advise them on the factors attracting individuals to their competitors. Our market intelligence and expertise allows us to help our clients craft a strategy that ensures they hire market-leading executives, to drive and deliver on their business objectives.
A Selection Of Recent Executive Appointments:
- Non-Executive Director, London – Medi-Tech
- Company Secretary, London – Energy
- APAC Head of HR, Singapore – Retail
- Global Head of Talent, New York – Media
- Head of IT Products, Switzerland – Manufacturing
Corporate & Transaction Banking
We work with financial institutions of all sizes and geographies, to help them recognise the potential for new streams of revenue from corporate customers, and the necessary overhaul of the technologies that serve them.
Leathwaite is well positioned to not only understand these problems, but to offer human capital and management consultancy solutions for corporate and transaction banking. Having also partnered with exchanges and data providers over the past decade, we are able to view the financial services market through a different lens.
Transaction Banking sector expertise:
- Cash Management / Payments
- Trade Finance / Supply Chain Finance
- Financing (working capital / structured finance)
- Treasury
- Securities Services (custody / funds)
Corporate Banking sector expertise:
- Business Leadership / General Management
- Relationship Management
- Portfolio Management
Fintech & Payments
Payments is one of the most developed areas for FinTech businesses; the proliferation of payments businesses set up to challenge more established payments firms is a proxy for how quickly the sector is evolving.
Leathwaite is one of the few organisations fortunate enough to have experience in this sector. Since many of these start-ups – and indeed more established FinTech and payments firms – emanated from individuals disillusioned with traditional financial services, our extensive history in the sphere has granted us access to this fresh and exciting discipline.
We have upskilled to meet the evolving needs of our clients by attending a wealth of FinTech and payments conferences and events. Our team has undertaken in-depth research, ensuring we are well placed to service this sector as it grows exponentially over the coming years.
Hedge Funds
Hedge funds continue to evolve and develop, in line with advancing technology and shifting regulatory requirements. Like asset management, hedge funds are experiencing the trickle-down effects of new regulations on banks and prime brokers, such as increased trading fees and broader changes to business relationships.
Leathwaite’s well-versed team of consultants has run over 200 mandates on behalf of alternative asset management businesses, from long-short to event-driven funds. We have worked with six of the 20 largest hedge funds (by AUM, 2015), along with smaller, niche businesses, to protect their interests as the industry evolves.
Insurance & Insurtech
Insurance has grown in popularity as a career since the 2008 financial crisis, and, coupled with the rapid rise of Insurtech, is furnished with more talent and competition than ever before. The rise of technology, surfeit of capital and continual dedication to data and analytics has bolstered the insurance sector with new products, services and lines of business, such as Insurance Linked Securities.
However, capital constraints and regulation have squeezed insurance providers, meaning alternative streams for funding are now being sought out, such as hedge funds and private equity.
Leathwaite’s specialist insurance consultants have led and delivered global mandates for insurers and brokers in the commercial and retail market, including firms with syndicates and/or a presence in Lloyds.
Our consultants foster and maintain executive relationships globally, allowing us to provide information, market intelligence and thought leadership that is unique to Leathwaite.
We have in-depth functional and sector expertise, spanning:
- Brokerages
- Underwriters
- General Insurance
- Life
- Property & Casualty
- Reinsurance
Investment Banking
The constantly increasing regulatory agenda, combined with the global talent shortages surrounding technical transformation, continue to dominate the investment banking landscape and associated leadership priorities of almost every global investment banking CEO.
Coupled with the rise of FinTech, investment banks have found their revenue harder to grow and maintain. Record fines and challenges from start-up firms have put significant pressure on this sector, leading to an exodus of talent on both a voluntary and involuntary basis.
Founded in 1999 as an organisation specialising in investment banking, Leathwaite still holds true to our beginnings, despite the fact that half our revenues emanate from other areas.
We service a number of the world’s leading global investment banks, some of which have been with us since our inception. Our investment banking consultants have relationships that span over a decade, with infrastructure expertise that is unrivalled in both depth and duration.
Private Banking Wealth
The private banking and wealth management landscape has been subjected to enormous pressures over the last five years, from direct competitors, new challengers and regulators.
Both the number of ultra-high and high net-worth individuals has grown, as has the wealth they hold. Asia-Pacific in particular has been in sharp focus, due to the boom of high net-worth individuals in the region. This growth, combined with an increasing emphasis on compliance, risk and technology, has made the sector an exciting and generously compensated place to be.
Leathwaite’s enduring presence in the sector has given us access to a talent pool that few other firms can rival. Our strong global network bolsters the passion and expertise of our dedicated consultants, some with direct industry experience. This allows us to operate effectively and efficiently on behalf of our clients.
We have in-depth functional and sector expertise, spanning:
- Boutique Wealth Management Firms
- Family Offices and Multi-Family Offices
- Financial Intermediaries
- Affluent Units of Retail Banks and Insurance Companies
- Private Banks
- Registered Investment Advisers
- Retail Brokerage Firms
Private Equity
Private equity (PE) strategies include leveraged buyouts, mezzanine capital and distressed investments, along with growth and venture capital. It is a mature market that has experienced rapid growth, but expectations remain the same: any investment must deliver returns.
Value creation is secured via strategic nous and operational excellence, making private equity hiring incredibly unique. In addition to staffing their own firms with highly talented professionals, our clients often need to hire on behalf of portfolio companies.
We partner with private equity and PE-owned businesses directly, as well as helping PE firms build their own in-house teams. Leathwaite’s multi-disciplinary consultants have worked with some of the sector’s leading private equity firms, meaning we are well versed on factors affecting the hiring and working practices within such businesses.
Private Practice/Legal
Law firms, like financial services firms, are experiencing rapid change as a result of technology. From communication with clients, to technology that enables businesses to manage their own clients and operations, change is sweeping across legal and private practices.
This, in turn, is leading to an even greater need for data security and stringent compliance practices. As a growing number of businesses bring legal teams in-house, law firms need to offer more for less, without increasing their cost base and eroding profits.
We partner with law firms across functions, delivering market-leading insights and a trusted service to our valued clients in this sector. Whether you require a new CFO or a Partner to lead a practice, Leathwaite has the tools and experience you need for an executive search.
Professional Services
Business and professional services firms have matured into increasingly complex organisations, with operational and service challenges akin to those of large multi-national conglomerates.
As their clients require ever more cost-effective and diverse solutions, many are restructuring to support the provision of a broader range of services, whilst preserving the inimitable facets of their culture.
Our consultants have an intimate understanding of the unique cultures within professional services firms; we are well equipped to understand both the complexity of our clients’ firms and the external challenges they face.
We offer in-depth expertise in the following areas:
- Accounting, Auditing and Tax Firms
- Business Process Outsourcing
- Due Diligence
- Human Resources Consulting
- Financial Advisory
- Financial and Transaction Processing
- IT Services
- Legal Consulting
- Operations Consulting
- Strategy and Management Consulting
Retail Financial Services
The retail financial services industry has evolved considerably – the rise of FinTech and digital banking means that customers are more demanding, discerning and sophisticated than ever. They expect personalised experiences, attuned to their online lifestyles.
The ubiquity of mobile technology has widespread implications, both for attracting and retaining customers, as well as ensuring data security. Cost control and streamlining operations remains a priority for the industry, as does cultivating new technologies and devising risk management schemes that combat security and compliance issues.
Leathwaite is aware of the prevailing challenges and requirements of our retail financial services clients. Over the years we have become a trusted adviser and partner to a range of SME and FTSE 250 businesses. We have nurtured long-term relationships with global executives, whom we maintain close relationships with to ensure we stay abreast of key issues in the industry.
Our functional and sector expertise spans numerous organisations, including:
- Building Societies
- Challenger Banks
- Credit Cards
- Loans
- Mortgages
- Retail Banking