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Alterna Search.

Specialist partner to private capital
and alternative investments.

Alterna Search specialises in recruiting emerging and executive talent for private capital and alternative funds. We partner with clients across finance, operations and investment functions predominantly in London, with wider networks in New York, Dublin and other jurisdictions across EMEA.

30 Combined years in search
500+ Mandates delivered
2 Two partners on every mandate

Built through experience.
Driven by long-term success.

Alterna Search was founded by two experienced recruiters as a specialist partner to private capital and alternative investments through genuine expertise, differentiating values, and a long-term approach.

We operate across all levels of seniority in finance, operations, ESG, portfolio management, and other investment related functions. This includes industry entrants and scaling teams, to pivotal senior hiring including finance leadership and other executive appointments.

Our method is focused on what matters most to our candidates and clients: long-term success.

We calibrate every aspect of our approach for long-term success. Through the quality of our process and level of candidate care, to how we advise our clients and support careers at every stage, we are committed to delivering talent that creates lasting value.

01
Specialist and Proven
With 30 years of combined experience in private capital and alternative investments, we are sector specialists with a proven process and extensive track record.
02
Focus and Alignment
Each assignment has the undivided focus of our two founders, backed by an industry-leading two-year placement guarantee which ensures our success parameters match our client's objectives.
03
Precision and Confidence
In addition to our network, we map and pre-qualify candidate markets at every level, ensuring depth, quality, and confidence in the shortlists we present.
04
Synergy and Partnership
Working seamlessly across senior, mid and entrant level appointments allows us to partner with professionals throughout their careers, build long term relationships and develop a holistic understanding of the market.
30
Combined years in search
500+
Mandates delivered
2
Partners on every mandate

Meet our
co-founders.

Alterna's partnership brings together complementary skills and perspectives, as well as specialist expertise in private capital and alternative investments.

HC
Holly Cousin
Co-Founder & Partner
London

Holly has 7 years’ experience supporting private capital funds, focusing on sourcing and placing talent across entrant to mid-level roles. She has built a wide network of emerging professionals across internal finance, value creation, ESG and investment teams, while also assisting on finance leadership searches and appointments.

Combining strong execution with deep talent market insight, she leads candidate mapping initiatives and produces market intelligence, materials, and insights on talent trends to support informed hiring decisions and inclusive growth strategies.

SK
Sean Keyes
Co-Founder & Partner
London

Sean brings over 22 years of experience in executive search and recruitment, with a large and diverse professional network developed throughout his career across London and beyond. Since 2011, he has led finance leadership searches and appointments for private capital funds, spanning internal finance, value creation, ESG and investment teams.

Alongside search, he acts as a trusted advisor to clients, providing market insights on remuneration, diversity & inclusion, team structure, and succession planning, to support long-term strategic hiring decisions.

What We Do

Search experts at every level of seniority.

Our edge is in our ability to work with individuals at every stage of their careers. By partnering with talent early and supporting their progression over time, we have stronger networks, better coverage, and broader access.

Retained Executive Search
Structured search methodology involving meticulous examination and evaluation of senior and leadership hires. We partner with senior individuals and key industry leaders throughout their career, offering unique access that traditional search firms may overlook.
Mid level and Entrant Recruitment
Ongoing talent pipelines and active outreach are combined to ensure coverage, efficiency and speed without compromising quality or depth, resulting in access to the best emerging talent in the market.
Market Mapping & Advisory
Bespoke market intelligence, including detailed mapping, benchmarking, and talent advisory.

Where We Work

Experts in private capital and alternatives.

We work exclusively within alternative investment strategies, placing finance, operations, and other professionals across every major asset class. Our networks span London, New York, Dublin, the Channel Islands, Luxembourg and the Middle East.

Buyout, mid-market, growth equity, distressed/turnaround, special situations, secondaries, and fund-of-funds.
Pre-seed & seed, early-stage, growth-stage, and sector-focused.
Direct lending, distressed, mezzanine, CLOs and, structured credit managers.
Real estate, infrastructure, renewables & energy transition, and natural resources.
ESG-focused funds, impact investing platforms, social impact, and sustainable infrastructure strategies.
Pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, endowments, single and multi-family offices.
Long/short, illiquid, global macro, event-driven, arbitrage, activist, systematic, and multi-strategy.
Investee companies and portcos across a range of sectors.

Multi-discipline
in a specialised market.

We are specialists with comprehensive market coverage within alternative investments, supporting clients and candidates across a broad range of functions.

Finance & Accounting
Financial Controller, Fund Controller, Finance Manager, Corporate Accountant, Management Accountant, Fund Accountant, Group Finance, FP&A, Finance Strategy, Treasury, and Tax.
Finance Leadership
Finance Partner, CFO, COO, Finance Director, and Head of Finance, Fund Finance Director, NED, and Board-level appointments.
HR & Talent
HR Director, HR Manager, HR Associate, HR Analyst, Talent Director, Talent Associate, and Recruitment Manager.
Investor Relations & ESG
IR Director, IR Associate, IR Analyst, Capital Raising, Client Expertise, ESG Director and ESG Analyst.
Portfolio Management & Data
Portfolio Director, Portfolio Associate, Portfolio Analyst, Data Analytics, Data Science, Value Creation, and Fund Modelling.
Investment Team
Investment Manager, Investment Associate, and Investment Analyst.

Your career,
handled with
care.

At Alterna, candidate care is at the heart of everything we do, and the value we provide extends beyond securing a job offer. We offer insight into the performance and reputation of hiring firms, recruitment trends, compensation benchmarks, and guidance on interview processes and salary negotiation. Our counsel is impartial, always focused on a candidate’s best interests. As a result, we often partner with individuals long term, helping navigate the course of their careers strategically and successfully.

Whether you are taking your first step into the industry, planning for a senior-level transition and or simply thinking about what’s next, we always welcome a discussion.

Have a Confidential Conversation
01
Confidential and Open
Confidential discussions allow for openness, clarity and a constructive approach.
02
Reliability and Integrity
We provide consistent support at every stage of the recruitment process, with clear communication and impartial advice.
03
Insight and Access
With 30 years of direct access to a variety of leading and boutique managers, we offer valuable insight and a range of opportunities.
04
Trust and Partnership
Our candidate partnerships are founded on trust and often extend across entire careers.

ESG Commitment.
Pro Bono Partnerships.

As part of our commitment to ESG, Alterna Search partners with selected charities on a pro bono basis, providing specialist search and advisory support to organisations driving meaningful impact.

Please contact us to register your interest in a pro bono appointment.

Let's start a
conversation.