Specialist executive search and talent solutions firm Metric Search has announced a majority investment from Southfield Capital, a premier US-based lower middle market private equity firm, at a $100 million valuation.
The strategic partnership with Southfield represents a significant milestone in Metric’s growth trajectory, following a period of rapid expansion backed by BGF, the UK and Ireland’s most active growth capital investor, and positions the firm to continue the expansion and acceleration of its global footprint with an institutional partner.
Founded in New York in 2019 by Joe Jani, Metric has been recognised in the Financial Times FT1000 list of fastest-growing companies in both 2025 and 2026. The firm has grown to over 130 consultants across seven global offices, delivering senior and executive-level search through four specialist sub-brands: Metric Geo (Engineering and Infrastructure), Metric DCX (Data Centers), Metric Bio (Life Sciences and MedTech), and Metric Exec (C-suite and PE-backed executive search).
Metric’s core sectors are among the most capital-intensive and talent-constrained in the global economy, requiring specialised expertise and execution to identify and capitalise on opportunities.
- The acceleration of AI infrastructure is driving unprecedented investment in Data Centers, creating acute demand for scarce technical and leadership talent.
- Life Sciences continues to attract significant private and public capital as the post-pandemic pipeline matures.
- Net zero commitments and large-scale infrastructure programmes are generating sustained demand for senior talent in Engineering and Infrastructure.
In each of these markets, the ability to identify, attract, and place the right people at the right level is both a critical success factor and a persistent challenge.
Metric’s specialist model, which is predicated on deep sector expertise, long-term client relationships, and consultants who understand the industries they serve, is designed precisely to navigate this complex environment. The partnership with Southfield Capital positions Metric to extend this specialist model further into the US and capitalise on its established and growing presence in the region, as well as expand into adjacent specialist markets where similar structural dynamics apply.
“This is a defining moment, not because of the capital, but because of what it represents,” said Joe Jani, Founder & CEO, Metric. “Every decision we have made since 2019 has been about staying disciplined, staying specialist, and earning the trust of the clients and candidates we work with. Our sectors, Data Centers, Life Sciences, Infrastructure, and Engineering, are at the centre of the most important capital flows in the global economy, and the cost of getting talent wrong in those markets is high. Metric exists to solve that problem, and with Southfield’s backing we now have the platform, the resources, and the team to do it at scale. I want to recognise every person at Metric for making this possible, and thank Adam Huckerby and the team at BGF, alongside our Non-Executive Chair Andy McRae, for the rigour and experience they brought to our journey.”
Chris Grambling, Partner, Southfield Capital, added: “We were immediately impressed by the differentiated offering Metric has built since its founding in 2019, especially in a market that is often commoditised. Their focus on sectors with structural talent scarcity, together with their depth of expertise and track record within those sectors, has allowed them to create an exceptional, best-in-class, and highly scalable platform. We are excited to be partnering with Joe and the rest of the Metric leadership team as part of their ambition to be a global leader in the specialist executive search space.”
“This is a fantastic outcome and a remarkable achievement in a short period of time,” commented Adam Huckerby, Investor, BGF. “When we backed Metric in July 2024, we saw a business with outstanding commercial instincts, a clear sense of where it could win, and a founder with the drive to make it happen. What Joe and the team have delivered in 20 months speaks for itself. This exit is a testament to their tenacity, and I have no doubt that the best chapter for Metric is still ahead.”
Houlihan Lokey served as exclusive financial advisor to the Metric shareholders. The transaction is a further demonstration of the strength of Houlihan Lokey’s dedicated global Human Capital Management coverage and its track record advising market-leading talent and professional services businesses.
