In our fifth annual European Private Capital Compensation Survey, Heidrick & Struggles invited executives working in the region’s private capital industry to participate in an online compensation survey.

This year we received 516 responses from executives across the private capital value chain: those who raise and retain capital, those who invest capital, and those who work to improve returns.

The survey responses indicate continued demand for talent from all subsectors of private capital. More than half (52%) of all respondents had no change in their year-over-year base salary from 2016 to 2017, while 33% reported an increase during the same period. Similarly, bonuses held strong in 2017 with 45% of respondents reporting no change from 2016 levels and 35% receiving a year-over-year increase.

Overall, mean cash compensation (base and bonus) grew for all professionals at every job level in 2017. Associates reported the highest growth rate in 2017 while principals rebounded modestly after a decline from 2015 to 2016, and managing partners and partners experienced a significant slowdown as compared with 2016.

About the authors

Surbhi Jain (sjain@kmcresearch.com) is a research analyst in Heidrick & Struggles’ Gurgaon office.

Larry Oberfeld (loberfeld@heidrick.com) is an associate in the New York office and a member of the Private Equity Practice.

Leanne Ryan (lryan@heidrick.com) is an associate in the London office and a member of the Private Equity Practice.

Tom Thackeray (tthackeray@heidrick.com) is a principal in the London office and a member of the Private Equity Practice.