The work of a head of M&A, without the year-long hire.
A corporate development team defines what to buy, maps the market, approaches owners and runs deals. We do that work for you, on a fixed fee, starting in week one.
A briefing is a free 30-minute call with Michael. No obligation.
- A fixed fee for 90 days, agreed up front
- Starts in week one: no recruitment
- Led by a partner who has run M&A in-house
- Stop after 90 days, or keep us on to completion with no retainer
Hiring in-house vs outsourcing
| Outsourced (Acquisitiv) | Head of M&A hire | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | A fixed fee for 90 days, a fraction of a year's salary | £100k+ a year salary, plus bonus, recruitment fee and benefits |
| Time to start | Week one | Typically months to recruit, then onboarding |
| Experience | Former head of M&A, many sectors and deal types | Depends on who you can attract |
| Commitment | 90 days, then your choice | A permanent role, deals or not |
| Best when | You'll do one to three deals a year | You'll do several deals a year, every year |
In-house cost is indicative; salaries vary by sector, location and seniority.
We'll tell you if you should hire
If you'll run several deals a year for years to come, a permanent head of M&A usually makes sense, and an outsourced search can still fill the gap while you recruit, or build the pipeline they inherit.
If acquisitions come in bursts, or you want to prove the strategy before committing to a permanent hire, outsourcing costs less and starts sooner. Is a buy-side adviser worth it? →
Ready to see who's in your market?
A free 30-minute call with Michael. No pitch deck, no obligation.