PER is pleased to announce that its senior leadership team has completed a management buyout of the company from founder Gail McManus
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As part of this transition, day-to-day leadership has passed to our CEO, Rupert Bell, and Managing Director, Charlie Hunt, who, alongside other senior colleagues, are now majority owners of the company.
"PER has been built on long term relationships and specialist expertise. Rupert, Charlie and the team have played a central role in that success for many years, and I’m confident they will continue to uphold the values and culture that define the firm. I’m proud to see them lead PER into its next chapter."
Gail McManus, Founder Director
A new chapter for PER
We’re delighted to share that the senior team at PER has completed a management buyout of the business from our founder, Gail McManus.
Gail founded PER 28 years ago and has shaped it into the leading international search specialist for private markets professionals, with offices across Europe, North America and Asia. Under her guidance, we’ve built the most extensive network in the industry and helped over 800 professionals move globally in the last two years alone.
PER’s growth has been built on its role as a specialist in private markets, with the most extensive network across the industry and the ability to capture and utilise commercial insights from those connections. Above all, the firm has been characterised by long-term relationships – with our clients; with our candidates (many of whom go on to become clients themselves); and with our own people.
As part of this transition, day-to-day leadership has passed to our CEO, Rupert Bell, and Managing Director, Charlie Hunt, who, alongside other senior colleagues, are now majority owners of the company.
Both Rupert and Charlie have worked closely alongside Gail for over 15 years, so this transition of leadership and ownership is really a story of continuity, reinforcing the distinctive culture and values that Gail brought to the company from the start.
This is an exciting time to start a new chapter in the life of PER. Global markets are recovering. We have experienced strong growth in the first half of 2025, and with new sources of capital opening up, the industry is evolving rapidly. The need for dedicated, expert advice to identify and retain talent has never been greater. The buyout maintains PER’s independence and enables the team to participate in the growth story to come.
Gail founded PER 28 years ago and has shaped it into the leading international search specialist for private markets professionals, with offices across Europe, North America and Asia. Under her guidance, we’ve built the most extensive network in the industry and helped over 800 professionals move globally in the last two years alone.
PER’s growth has been built on its role as a specialist in private markets, with the most extensive network across the industry and the ability to capture and utilise commercial insights from those connections. Above all, the firm has been characterised by long-term relationships – with our clients; with our candidates (many of whom go on to become clients themselves); and with our own people.
As part of this transition, day-to-day leadership has passed to our CEO, Rupert Bell, and Managing Director, Charlie Hunt, who, alongside other senior colleagues, are now majority owners of the company.
Both Rupert and Charlie have worked closely alongside Gail for over 15 years, so this transition of leadership and ownership is really a story of continuity, reinforcing the distinctive culture and values that Gail brought to the company from the start.
This is an exciting time to start a new chapter in the life of PER. Global markets are recovering. We have experienced strong growth in the first half of 2025, and with new sources of capital opening up, the industry is evolving rapidly. The need for dedicated, expert advice to identify and retain talent has never been greater. The buyout maintains PER’s independence and enables the team to participate in the growth story to come.
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Rupert's profile
