VC Firm QED Acquires FinTech Executive Search Company

Global venture capital firm QED Investors is acquiring boutique search company Lingua Franca Search (LF Search), a startup specializing in placing FinTech and financial services professionals.

Acquired for undisclosed terms, the purchase of LF Search aligns with QED’s investment strategy. The VC firm previously held a majority stake in LF Search and the move represents an increase in ownership stake, according to a Friday (Sept. 30) press release.

“We founded LF Search in 2017 to fill the void in placing world-class credit and analytics talent within the fintech and financial services space,” QED Investors Managing Partner Nigel Morris said in the release.

“Over the past five years, it has placed scores of C-Suite executives and critical hires at some of the world’s best-known financial services brands. I couldn’t be more excited to bring LF Search more into the fold and provide our portfolio companies an internal resource to hire the talent they need to succeed,” Morris added.

See also: QED Investors Makes First African Investment in TeamApt

LF Search has moved beyond its initial focus of placing people in credit, risk, analytics and performance marketing roles. Over the past two years, its placement services include leadership positions in C-suite roles including chief operating officer, chief financial officer, chief revenue officer and general counsel functions.

The startup has further placed people in mid- and mid-senior positions reporting to the higher-level C-suite roles, according to the press release.

“As someone who has been involved in the broader QED orbit for the past decade, it gives me a great deal of excitement to have an opportunity to further serve QED’s portfolio companies and help each of them acquire world-class talent. We have a deep network of talent within risk, credit, digital, finance, operations, product, marketing, business development, strategy and legal,” said LF Search CEO Thomas King.

Read more: Tech Investments Usher In Post-Oil Future in Emerging Markets

“Whether we are working with a pre-revenue fintech or established financial services provider, we bring our decades of industry and search experience to each and every search we perform. Our team takes great pride in the work that we do and we are thrilled to help some of the world’s most innovative fintechs recruit their most critical talent,” King added.

Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, LF Search has placed over 100 critical executive, senior and professional hires at globally recognized FinTech brands. Under the acquisition deal with QED Investors, LF Search will continue to serve both QED portfolio companies, as well as companies outside of the QED orbit.