Hiring senior HR leaders to drive private equity-backed growth

Autor Ayling Oei
Oktober 30, 2025

Private equity-backed companies across Europe are scaling rapidly, and human capital is at the heart of that growth.

In 2023 alone, 11.2 million people were employed by private equity-backed businesses in Europe. These portfolio companies created 339,000 new jobs, growing employment by 5% – far outpacing the 1% average across the wider European economy.

As private equity firms continue to deploy capital and refine their investment thesis, the demand for strategic HR leadership is intensifying. Whether PE-backed companies are scaling through M&A, preparing for exit or building out new HR functions, they need HR leaders who can drive value, align people strategy with business goals and support high-performing leadership teams.

From Chief People Officers (CPOs) and Chief Human Resources Officers (CHROs) to Heads of Talent and Vice Presidents of HR, the right hire can enhance operational efficiency, accelerate onboarding and ensure cultural fit across the organisation.

Several macro and micro trends are influencing how PE-backed businesses hire senior HR leaders:

  • HR tech and automation: The rise of AI, data analytics and digital platforms is reshaping HR functions, increasing demand for leaders who can implement data-driven initiatives and track KPIs across the employee lifecycle
  • Globalisation and compliance: As businesses expand across borders, HR leaders must navigate complex employment laws, DEI mandates and due diligence processes
  • Transformation and change management: HR leaders are expected to lead organisational change, especially in high-pressure, fast-moving environments
  • Talent scarcity: Dutch-speaking HR professionals with transformation experience are in short supply, particularly in roles requiring local compliance expertise
  • Flexible working models: Candidates increasingly expect flexibility in working hours, location and contract type – especially in the Netherlands where part-time and remote arrangements are common
  • Strategic alignment: HR leaders are expected to align talent strategy with broader business strategy and investment goals

Why HR leadership is pivotal in private equity recruitment

Unlike large corporates, PE-backed companies often lack internal infrastructure to support complex hiring and talent management strategies. Senior HR leaders in these settings must be hands-on, commercially minded and ready for transformation.

They’re expected to:

  • Build scalable HR functions from scratch
  • Lead culture development and employee engagement
  • Drive talent acquisition and retention strategies
  • Support leadership development and succession planning
  • Align people strategy with strategic goals and investor expectations
  • Collaborate with CFOs, Managing Directors and other C-suite stakeholders to ensure business strategy is people-led
  • Influence decision-making through metrics, KPIs and human capital insights
  • Manage the full HR lifecycle from onboarding to exit

Common hiring challenges in PE-backed HR recruitment

  1. Limited internal TA capability: Many portfolio companies lack dedicated talent acquisition teams, making recruitment difficult to manage internally
  2. Dutch-speaking talent shortages: Finding HR leaders fluent in Dutch and experienced in local employment law is a recurring challenge
  3. Budget constraints: PE-backed firms often operate under tight budgets, requiring careful salary benchmarking and negotiation support
  4. Speed vs quality: Growth timelines are aggressive but rushing a hire can lead to misalignment and high turnover
  5. Role clarity and progression: Candidates want to understand how the role fits into their career trajectory – especially if it’s a pathway to CHRO, CPO or global leadership roles
  6. Cultural fit and retention: Ensuring alignment with company values and leadership style is key to long-term retention and impact

What top HR professionals are looking for

Senior HR professionals with five to ten years of experience are in demand. To attract top-tier talent, employers must understand their priorities:

  • Career progression: Clear pathways to C-suite roles such as CHRO, CPO or Managing Director
  • Transformation exposure: Opportunities to lead change and build functions from the ground up
  • Work-life balance: Flexibility in working hours and arrangements – not just interim vs permanent but part-time and remote options
  • Market insight: Salary transparency, benchmarking and clarity on metrics and KPIs
  • Networking and influence: Access to peer networks, LinkedIn communities and strategic decision-making forums
  • High-impact roles: Candidates want to contribute to initiatives that drive value and support the investment thesis
  • Visibility and influence: Many HR leaders seek roles where they can work closely with stakeholders and influence leadership teams

How we support private equity recruitment

Here’s how we help private equity-backed businesses hire senior HR leaders:

  1. Salary benchmarking: We provide salary data and market trends across Europe to help employers attract top talent
  2. Senior HR network in the Netherlands and wider Europe: Our curated network connects high-impact candidates with growth-focused roles
  3. Consultative hiring support: From scoping the role to offer negotiation, we guide employers through every step of the search process
  4. PE and VC expertise: We work closely with private equity firms and venture capital investors to identify HR leaders with a strong track record in transformation and value creation
  5. Local market knowledge: Our team brings Dutch market insight to help navigate language, compliance and cultural nuances
  6. Talent strategy alignment: We help employers define HR leadership roles that support strategic goals and business outcomes
  7. Access to top-tier candidates: Through our data-driven search process, we assess candidates against key metrics including leadership impact, retention success, operational efficiency and ability to scale HR functions

Hiring senior HR leaders for private equity-backed growth is about securing the strategic leadership needed to scale successfully. With the right approach and support, portfolio companies can build HR functions that drive value, support business strategy and deliver long-term success.

Get in touch with us today to discuss your hiring needs.

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