Vice President of Business Development; Sponsor Coverage

VICE PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT / SPONSOR COVERAGE

ABOUT THE ROLE:

An exciting opportunity is available for a driven and visionary deal‑making professional to join one of the leading M&A advisory firms in the industry. In this role, you will lead the Business Development, Outbound Sales, and Marketing efforts; representing our firm, maintaining current private equity relationships, and securing new PE opportunities through the expansion of our relationships and services. The ideal candidate should possess a bachelor’s degree, strong interpersonal communication skills, effective time management and organizational skills, excellent verbal and written skills, self‑motivation, drive and passion, a professional approach to work, ability to think independently and quickly, maintain professional development, and a confident nature.

• From Ripples to Waves – Little things eventually can create a large impact. With that, this role will identify potential clients by growing, maintaining, and leveraging internal and external networks and databases; then demonstrate follow‑through with all aspects of the sales process; provide regular reporting updates in CRM and to the Leadership Team.
• Walk the Talk – The work is hard and requires determination/grit. This person will serve as the lead point‑of‑contact for existing private equity firms, helping expand their use of Cook M&A Advisory services into their firm and their portfolio companies.
• Be The Unsung Hero – Do the work and don’t worry about who gets credit; deal making is a team game. This candidate will work with the team to develop opportunities to meet collective goals and objectives. Creating and following processes is a requirement for this role.
• Carpe Dealum – Seize the day and win the deals. This role will require prospecting skills to match opportunities with leaders/principals from private equity and family offices located throughout the United States, whether through our traditional Sponsors Coverage or through our Cook Connect process.
• For Crying Out Loud, Have Fun – Regularly network and collaborate with private equity industry professionals (up to 10‑15% travel), spread the good word that is Cook M&A, and be a positive, vibrant member of the Cook team.

• Field inbound meeting requests and targeted outbound meetings with private equity groups throughout the country.
• Qualify groups following a specific internal validation process.
• Prepare follow up materials, summaries of previous experience, and engagement contracts.
• Follow up to acquire engagement contracts.
• Work the internal process to successfully kick off engagements.
• Assist in the identification and connection between targeted financial sponsors and relevant target companies.

• Bachelor’s degree and minimum 5+ years’ experience in a sales and/or business development role.
• Proven sales prospecting skills and track record of high‑performance, growing and maintaining business relationships.
• Demonstrable success meeting outlined objectives and goals.
• M&A or PE related experience is a plus.
• Sense of urgency for goal achievement, varied activities, managing multiple and simultaneous projects, multi‑tasking, fast‑paced environment.
• Results‑focused idea generation, process following/improvement, innovative and creative problem solving, rapport and relationship building.
• Action‑oriented.
• Quick decision making in response to changing conditions.
• Extroverted, confident, enthusiastic, persuasive influence, stimulates others to action, collaborative spirit.
• Accountability for results.

• Competitive Spirit, Results Oriented, Self‑starter, Sense of Urgency, Team Player, Organized

Chief Operating Officer/EOS Integrator

Competitive base salary ($100,000 to $125,000) plus competitive commission structure, Healthcare, 401k

Founded in 1996, and headquartered in Chicago, The Cook M&A Advisory team delivers transaction‑focused strategic advice to private equity investors, family offices, corporations, executives and owners in buy‑side transactions. We work with businesses across all industry…