26 Feb 2026
Hiring

Senior search, the Kea way: a candidate’s perspective

By: Kadeem Houson CEO

Culturally and strategically, senior hires can shape the direction of any business. So, the cost of making poor hiring decisions can be significant. This is particularly the case for lean investment teams, where each recruitment process is set up to uncover high-impact hires who will have a positive impact on origination, deal execution and, crucially, fund performance.

 

The stakes are also high from a candidate’s perspective. To make a lateral move from an existing fund, especially at a more senior level, candidates are weighing up salary aspirations, accrued carried interest, and existing social capital in their current funds. Typically, their hope is that they will be of more cultural and strategic value elsewhere, and be rewarded accordingly.

At Kea Consultants, we have a deep understanding of the trade-offs involved. Our connectivity with candidates, developed during their formative years in finance, gives us a unique insight into their motivators. This allows us to present opportunities that are worth the risk for them. And, our established relationships mean that candidates trust us to both coach them and challenge their assumptions in pursuit of the role that best aligns with their value as an investor and their personal career aspirations.

For clients, we think beyond a list of criteria on a candidate specification. We critically engage with a fund’s longer-term strategic aspirations and, through consulting and challenge, seek to understand the skills and character traits of the next senior hire that will best advance the fund’s goals. It’s the combination of long-term client and candidate relationships and the balance of curiosity and challenge in our interactions that has had a marked impact on the success of senior hiring.

Isidora Stankovic is Director of Private Equity at TMRS, based in Houston. Before that she has held positions on Private Equity team at Searchlight Capital Partners, the Private Equity team at BC Partners and the Financial Services and Natural Resources Groups of Goldman Sachs’ investment banking division.

I sat down with Isidora to discuss her experience of working with Kea through senior moves in her career. Having been at the sharp end of a Kea recruitment process a handful of times in her career, I was confident that she would offer a great perspective on our search philosophy in practice:

KH

How has Kea supported your professional growth throughout your career?

IS

Working with Kea across two career moves, Amy Nicholas and the wider team brought a level of care and attentiveness that is rare in what is often a high-pressure process. Clear communication, approachability, and a genuine interest in understanding my longer-term career priorities made a meaningful difference. Our conversations were collaborative, with real space for reflection and idea generation. This helped me think more critically about what I wanted to solve for, what mattered most at that stage of my life, and which opportunities were most aligned with those priorities. As an American moving into the London market, the support was particularly valuable. Kea helped me navigate not only a new position, but the wider cultural and market context – providing insight into how the landscape works, where I could add the most value, and what to consider beyond the formal job description.

KH

At this stage in your career, what qualities do you value most in a head hunter?

IS

As someone looking to make a really significant career move, the human component was fundamental for me. I felt I needed to work with a team that understands the market in depth, could act as a trusted sounding board, and brought perspective not only on a single opportunity, but on the industry as a whole. The combination of broader insight, holistic exposure, and a relationship built on real understanding helped make the whole process a positive experience.

KH

How did Kea deliver on those qualities during your moves?

IS

Before working with Kea, I had never considered that a relationship with a search partner could work in such a collaborative way. Over time, they have become a valuable part of my broader network within the industry. I knew I could call the team at any point simply to talk, whether there was an immediate need or because I needed to talk things through with experts who understood the context. In my experience, that kind of open-ended support is rare.

KH

What differentiates Kea from other executive search firms you’ve worked with?

IS

Communication and attitude, without question. There is a consistently positive quality to the way Kea engages. Every interaction felt thoughtful rather than pressured, with an openness that created space for honest discussion. There were no assumptions, and no sense of being pushed toward a predetermined outcome. The team provided support throughout the process, taking the time to understand where I was in my life and what I was working toward. Even though I had a clear idea of my direction, that element of idea generation and challenge helped surface possibilities I had not considered.

We put Relationships First

At the highest levels, effective senior search is rarely defined by speed. Leadership talent shapes both culture and performance, so finding the right person is about more than skills and experience. Creating successful outcomes depends on doing the work early to develop market understanding, build long-term relationships, and clearly define what success looks like for both the client and candidate.

This is what we mean when we talk about being a different kind of search firm. Our approach gives our clients confidence that each appointment addresses not only immediate capability gaps but brings long-term strategic value. For candidates, it means having a proactive partner with a singular focus on making sure the best talent ends up in the right environments for the right reasons.

Isidora’s experience is not a one-off. It reflects the standard we seek to deliver consistently through the balance of understanding, collaboration, and continual improvement that defines our work.