Director · Financial Services
Simon Hunt
Director | Executive Search & Talent Solutions
- Focus
- People · Reward · Talent Ops
- Level
- VP to C-Suite
- Based
- New York and London
- Experience
- 25 years
Financial & Professional Services
Talent for the world's most exacting firms.
Boutique search and staffing firm
Over 21 years placing senior people, reward, talent and operations leaders across hedge funds, investment banks, private equity and fintech. New York and every market that matters.
01
21+
Years in financial services
Est. 2005 - New York
02
1,400+
Senior placements made
Across 80+ global firms
03
$160k–$400k
Typical total package range
VP to C-Suite level
04
72%
Repeat client rate
Long-term partnerships
§ 01 / We understand financial services
A practice built around financial services people leadership, not bolted on.
What we solve
The specialised demands of a regulated, global, culturally singular industry.
Oakleaf was founded on delivering people and talent leadership within financial services, and we've been actively networking inside this global people community for over 21 years. The nuances of the sector — its pace, its politics, its people — are second nature to us.
Financial services firms are marked by intricate regulatory requirements and operational demands that don't exist anywhere else. For firms operating internationally, people leaders need experience with global practices and fluency in moving between regulatory environments without missing a beat.
The rapid evolution of the industry — fintech, digital transformation, new asset classes — has shifted what the people function is expected to deliver. Today's people leaders need to absorb technological change and integrate it into reward, talent and organisational strategy.
Cultural fit is the other non-negotiable. Financial services firms have distinctive, often singular corporate cultures. People professionals must align with and nurture them while executing effective strategy, and they must be comfortable operating in demanding, in-person environments where decisions move quickly.
Hedge FundsInvestment BankingPrivate EquityAsset ManagementFintechInsurance & ReinsuranceGlobal MarketsProfessional Services
§ 02 / Who we work with
Trusted by the firms that set the standard
15 of 80+ shown
§ 03 / Recent assignments
The searches we deliver
| Global Head of Executive Development | Fintech | $400,000 |
| Global People Business Partner | Global Markets | $400,000 |
| Global Head of Executive Recruitment | Fintech | $380,000 |
| Global People Business Partner (ED) | Banking | $365,000 |
| Global Head of Travel Management | Private Equity | $320,000 |
| US Head of Benefits | Fintech | $275,000 |
| VP Business Partner | Investment Banking | $268,000 |
| VP Employee Relations | Investment Banking | $252,000 |
| Head of Reward & Wellbeing | Asset Management | $210,000 |
| Compensation Associate | Private Equity | $180,000 |
| Campus Recruiter | Asset Management | $180,000 |
| L&D Manager | Reinsurance | $180,000 |
| People & Benefits Specialist | Insurance | $170,000 |
| People Operations Associate | Hedge Fund | $160,000 |
| Global Benefits Analyst | Hedge Fund | $160,000 |
| Front Office Recruiter | Banking | $150,000 |
| Talent Operations Analyst | Insurance | $100,000 |
§ 04 / Our Consultants
Speak with someone who knows the room.
Senior Consultant · Financial Services
AJ Covi
Trusted Search partner to Hedge funds | Asset Managers | PE placing People, Rewards & Corporate Functions across NYC
- Focus
- People · Reward · Corporate Functions
- Level
- VP to C-Suite
- Based
- New York, NY
- Experience
- 7 years
Manager · Financial Services
Tina Slocum
Executive Search | Chief of Staff | People | Business Support | Executive Assistants | Legal Support
- Focus
- Executive Search · Business Support
- Level
- All levels
- Based
- New York, NY
- Experience
- 15 years
Client Testimonial
HC
Head of Human Capital
$14B AUM multi-strategy hedge fund
New York · 2025
“Oakleaf didn't give us a longlist — they gave us the right three. They understood the culture before we'd finished describing it, and the shortlist reflected it. Our VP Business Partner was hired inside six weeks.”
Ready to start a search?
We respond to every brief within one business day. Share the role, the culture, and the timeline — we’ll come back with a shortlist strategy and who we’d put on it.