Gowlink Retained^™

Most executive search works one way: a client gives us a mandate; we find the best candidate for it. Gowlink Retained flips that model entirely.

We take on a small number of exceptional candidates, primarily experienced Dealmakers, and work solely on their behalf. We go out into the market, open the doors they want opened, and get them in front of the people they actually want to meet. Not because a mandate landed on our desk. Because we went out and found it.

In return, we ask for one thing: your commitment. Not a contract, not a formal exclusivity agreement. Just a straightforward understanding between professionals.

Gowlink Retained is for senior investors, typically VP to Partner level, who are at the top of their game and want their next move handled with the same rigour they’d apply to a deal.

It’s for people who value working closely with both founders throughout their search, knowing we are genuinely motivated to find the right opportunity and will personally handle every aspect with care, discretion and precision.

It is not for everyone. We take on very few candidates through this route and we are selective about who we work with.

It starts with a conversation. Before anything else, we sit down together and take the time to properly understand what you’re looking for: not just the role title or the fund size, but the culture, the team, the carry structure and the things that matter to you.

From there, we build a target list together. We map out the firms that make genuine sense for you strategically, culturally and at this stage in your career.

Once we’re aligned on targets, we get to work. We leverage our network and open the right doors. Where those doors aren’t already open, we find a way in. The whole process is built around transparency, so you’ll know what’s happening at every stage of your search.