ED/MD | Large-Cap Sponsor Coverage (London)
Executive Director / Managing Director - Large-Cap Sponsor Coverage (London)
Location: London, United Kingdom
An established and growing financial platform is seeking an entrepreneurial Sponsor Coverage and Leveraged Finance Originator to help build a market-leading sponsor finance franchise.
This is a rare opportunity for a commercially minded banker to step away from a traditional investment banking environment and play a leading role in creating and scaling a business. The successful individual will be responsible for developing relationships with leading private equity sponsors, originating financing opportunities, and helping establish a lending platform focused on sponsor-backed companies including hiring a team.
The role is ideally suited to individuals who enjoy winning business, building relationships and operating with a high degree of autonomy.
The successful candidate will be responsible for developing relationships with Tier 1 and upper mid-market private equity firms and originating opportunities across their portfolio companies.
The long-term strategy is to build a scalable sponsor coverage and sponsor finance platform capable of providing:
- Leveraged Finance solutions
- Direct Lending
- Capital Markets Solutions
The business is looking to establish itself as a trusted financing partner to sponsors and their portfolio companies, with lending commitments typically in the $25-30 million range serving as a gateway to broader sponsor operating company related ancillary business.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and manage relationships with leading large-cap private equity sponsors.
- Originate acquisition, refinancing, recapitalisation and growth financing opportunities.
- Identify lending opportunities across sponsor-owned portfolio companies.
- Act as the primary relationship manager for sponsor clients
- Identify ancillary wallet across FX, rates, commodities hedging, etc opportunities.
- Generate opportunities across leveraged finance, private credit and capital markets products.
- Lead sponsor meetings and develop new business opportunities.
- Build long-term relationships with investment professionals, operating partners, CEOs and CFOs.
- Work closely with internal execution teams to deliver financing solutions.
- Drive revenue generation and franchise growth through active client engagement.
- Help shape the future direction of the platform and contribute to team expansion.
We are interested in speaking with professionals currently operating at:
- Executive Director
- Managing Director
The search is intentionally broad and we welcome candidates from a variety of backgrounds, including:
- Financial Sponsor Coverage
- Large Cap Leveraged Finance
- Private Credit / Direct lending firms
The successful individual will possess:
- A deep and established network across private equity sponsors.
- A demonstrable track record of originating and winning business.
- Strong relationships across Tier 1 and upper mid-market sponsors.
- Exceptional commercial instincts and relationship management skills.
- A highly proactive approach to business development.
- The credibility to engage with senior sponsor stakeholders from day one.
- A genuine desire to build a platform over the long term.
We are particularly interested in individuals who thrive on client interaction, spend significant time in the market, and enjoy creating opportunities through relationship-led origination.
This role is not designed for someone looking to maintain the status quo.
It is aimed at professionals who:
- Want to build something meaningful.
- Enjoy operating in entrepreneurial environments.
- Have the ambition to create and scale a franchise.
- Are motivated by winning business and developing market presence.
- Want to play a leading role in shaping a growing platform.
The successful hire will be given the opportunity to establish themselves as the face of the business within the sponsor community and help drive future growth, including the build-out of dedicated execution resources at VP and Associate level.
Key Attributes
- Deep sponsor network
- Proven origination track record
- Entrepreneurial mindset
- Commercially driven
- Relationship-focused
- Highly proactive
- Long-term orientation
- Strong execution awareness
- Team-building mentality
- Desire to create a market-leading franchise
FAQs
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