Sheffield Haworth

Our H1 2026 Global Infrastructure Report is live. Hiring across global infrastructure stayed active in the first half, but firms were more selective. Demand held up across both investment and fundraising, with clear momentum in a few areas. Trends we are seeing: • Energy transition and digital infrastructure are converging. Demand has moved towards power, storage, grid and data centres, and firms want investors who pair sector knowledge with commercial judgement. • Infrastructure debt was one of the strongest growth areas. In Europe, it nearly doubled its share of hiring year on year. • Secondaries moved into focus, with continuation vehicles and liquidity solutions drawing both direct investors and dedicated managers. • In the Middle East, global managers kept building local teams, while sovereigns, pension funds and family offices deepened their own. Across Europe, we tracked 78 executive appointments, with infrastructure equity accounting for just over half. Request the full report across all four regions here, or reach out to Nicholas Sehmer, Head of the Infrastructure Practice at Sheffield Haworth, directly to request a copy. https://lnkd.in/edcVTfaC

We are pleased to welcome Michael T. McDonnell to Sheffield Haworth as Managing Director in our Technology Sector Practice, based in the US. Michael will lead our coverage of private equity and growth venture portfolio companies across the US and Europe, running C-level searches across technology, commercial, and financial functions. Portfolio businesses are competing hard for executive talent as AI reshapes how they operate, and the right leadership is a key differentiator. He joins us from True Search, where he was a Global Partner and co-led the firm's Nordics business. Earlier roles include Renovata Partners and Christian & Timbers, alongside senior people and talent leadership at TOA Technologies (acquired by Oracle) and Aver Informatics. A dual citizen of the US and Ireland, Michael has led extensive cross-border work with European and Nordic founders, CEOs, and investors hiring into the US. We look forward to the expertise and cross-border perspective Michael brings as we support clients hiring senior portfolio talent. Full press release here: https://lnkd.in/e5GFBV56

Hong Kong continues to play a critical role in connecting China with global capital markets. In our latest Industry Insight, David Wong speaks with Terry Zhang, Head of Global Strategy and Business Management at CSPI Ratings, about the evolving Chinese credit landscape, changing investor priorities and the growing demand for leaders who can operate effectively across local and international markets. The conversation explores what global investors need to understand about Chinese credit, where capital is moving and why strong cross-border leadership remains in short supply. Read the full interview: https://lnkd.in/d34QayeZ

Momentum is continuing to build across the ESG and Responsible Investment hiring market. Q2 brought a clear increase in junior-to-mid-level activity, alongside growing demand for professionals who can combine ESG expertise with quantitative, data and AI capabilities.   Across public markets, real estate, infrastructure, private credit and private equity, our Q2 review covers:  – How AI is helping ESG teams improve reporting, data collection and efficiency – Why climate-transition infrastructure is attracting renewed interest – How private credit is expanding ESG capability – Why established ESG and SDG strategies are continuing to attract capital – How growing optimism around impact investing is creating new career opportunities   Q2 selected people moves are inside. Read the full review via the link: https://lnkd.in/eGgdssvn or speak to our expert Tom Eagar

We are delighted to welcome Sun-Sun de Swaan to Sheffield Haworth as Managing Director of the US Real Estate Practice. The sector is changing quickly. Shifting capital flows, higher financing costs, and rising expectations around sustainability are reshaping how investors, developers, and operators compete, and strong leadership has never mattered more. Sun-Sun brings more than 25 years of real estate experience and over a decade of leading real estate practices in executive search. She joins from McDermott + Bull, following earlier roles at Highgate, Hersha Hospitality Trust, and Denihan Hospitality Group, and beginning her career at Ernst & Young and PKF Consulting. We look forward to the expertise and judgement she brings as we grow the practice. https://lnkd.in/eubPB-Bw

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Spanish Executives in Real Assets networking event in London. As always, it was fantastic to share knowledge and support each other as the sector evolves and Southern Europe continues to establish itself as a more active region within the space. Well done to Isabel Ruiz Halter, Executive Director in our European Real Estate Practice, for organising and hosting it. If you're interested in discussing the European real estate talent market with Isabel, please reach out to her via the link: https://lnkd.in/eJxNGWPH ---   Gracias a todos los que nos acompañasteis en nuestro evento de networking de Spanish Executives in Real Assets en Londres.   Como siempre, fue un placer compartir conocimientos y apoyarnos mientras el sector sigue evolucionando y el sur de Europa continúa consolidándose como una región cada vez más activa y relevante dentro de la industria.   Enhorabuena a Isabel Ruiz Halter, Executive Director de nuestro equipo Europeo de Real Estate, por la excelente organización y por ejercer de anfitriona del evento.   Si te interesa hablar con Isabel sobre el mercado de talento en el sector inmobiliario europeo, no dudes en ponerte en contacto con ella a través del siguiente enlace: https://lnkd.in/eJxNGWPH

At senior level, capability earns the appointment. The transition determines the impact.   Derailment is rarely about competence alone. Culture, politics, stakeholder alignment, and early assimilation often carry the real risk. For clients making senior hires, the hard work starts before day 1, and the first 90 to 180 days are decisive.   That is why we encourage our clients to consider StartingStrong by Barber Carter: executive coaching that supports leaders from appointment to performance.   Read our research summary on making a success of leadership transitions: https://lnkd.in/eTzdeK5Q

𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱, 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗛𝗶𝗹𝗹. Mark joined Sheffield Haworth just over six months ago as Managing Director in our Technology Sector practice. Although he had only been with us for a short time, he quickly became part of the team and settled into life at Sheffield Haworth as though he had always been here. Mark was a wonderfully warm, friendly and engaging person who became a friend to many of us. His passing has come as a deep shock. Our thoughts are with Mark's family, friends and colleagues during this very difficult time. We ask that their privacy be respected.

The FCA's final rules for the UK cryptoasset regime are often discussed through a retail lens, but the implications for investment banks, asset managers and other wholesale firms are substantial.   Firms engaging with digital assets should now assess where they fall within scope, what authorisation may be required, and how their control framework needs to evolve.   Read the full blog here (https://lnkd.in/eeid7PYh) or reach out to Adriaan Hugo to start a conversation about your needs.   #UKRegulation #Cryptoassets #FCA #DigitalAssets #AssetManagement #InvestmentBanking #FinancialServices Seal Llego

Digital defence consultancy is entering a new phase.   Across the UK and Europe, increased investment, digital modernisation, AI assurance, and technology sovereignty are creating significant opportunities for specialist providers. But opportunity does not automatically translate into scale.   The firms that succeed will be those able to build trust with defence customers, price complex work effectively, and turn bespoke programmes into repeatable capability. That makes leadership a strategic differentiator.   Our latest Sheffield Haworth perspective explores the leadership trends shaping digital consulting for defence in 2026, informed by our conversations across the market. It covers the talent pinch points facing scale-ups, the growing importance of defence-credible boards, and the executive profiles likely to command a premium.   Access the full report here: https://lnkd.in/eugNTbHb Or reach out to our experts Tom Granger and Benjamin Tilley to start a conversation about the market.