A global investment banking boutique is seeking a Managing Director to lead the launch of its UK Debt Advisory franchise in London. This role involves establishing and growing the division, focusing on complex financings for private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies. The successful candidate will have over ten years of relevant experience, a strong track record in sponsor-backed transactions, and an entrepreneurial mindset. Responsibilities include origination, execution, team development, and collaboration with international teams. This position offers a fast track to a Partner-level title, contributing significantly to the firm’s UK expansion and strategic vision.
Position: Managing Director – Debt Advisory
Location: London
Firm: Global Investment Banking Boutique
Overview
We are mandated by a globally integrated investment banking boutique to appoint a Managing Director to spearhead the launch and leadership of its UK Debt Advisory franchise. The firm operates across the full investment banking spectrum—including M&A advisory, debt advisory, equity capital markets, IPO advisory, and equity research—and is now advancing the next phase of its UK expansion, underpinned by entrepreneurial leadership and cross-border execution capability.
This is a Partner-track mandate with significant strategic visibility, offering a fast route to Partner-level title upon successful establishment and early traction of the UK franchise. The successful candidate will play a foundational role in shaping and scaling a core vertical of the UK business—owning origination, execution, and team build-out from day one. The focus is on advising private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies across mid- and upper mid-market transactions, with a strong emphasis on complex, high-impact financings. This is a rare opportunity to embed and grow a senior advisory function within a high-performance, multi-product global platform—combining the agility of a boutique with institutional reach.
Key Responsibilities
- Establish and lead the UK Debt Advisory franchise, assuming full strategic and operational responsibility for its positioning, growth, and integration into the firm’s broader platform
- Originate and execute sophisticated financing solutions across the capital structure—including LBOs, refinancings, recapitalisations, and complex sponsor-led transactions
- Act as a lead advisor to private equity sponsors, portfolio CFOs, and corporate leadership, guiding clients through capital structure design, debt raising, and transaction execution
- Build and scale a high-performing team, setting recruitment priorities, developing talent, and fostering a results-oriented culture defined by technical excellence and commercial delivery
- Collaborate closely with international sector and product teams, leveraging the firm’s global network to drive cross-border opportunities and enhance client coverage
- Serve as the firm’s senior voice in the UK debt market, contributing to thought leadership, brand development, and strategic client relationships
Candidate Profile
- 10+ years of experience in debt advisory, leveraged finance, or private credit, gained at a leading investment bank or independent advisory platform
- Track record of origination and execution in sponsor-backed transactions, with deep understanding of the UK mid- and upper mid-market landscape
- Strong technical foundation across a range of capital structures—senior, unitranche, mezzanine, hybrid instruments—and an ability to tailor financing solutions to client-specific needs
- Entrepreneurial mindset with the drive and judgment to build a business line from inception, balancing commercial ambition with delivery discipline
- Proven ability to lead teams and mentor junior talent, with a strong personal track record of developing execution capability within advisory settings
- Established and credible network of sponsor and corporate relationships, with the ability to originate mandates and serve as a trusted advisor to C-suite and partner-level stakeholders
Source ⇲
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