Houlihan Lokey Advises Metric Search

Houlihan Lokey is pleased to announce that Metric Search (Metric), a specialist executive search and talent solutions firm, has received a majority investment from Southfield Capital (Southfield), a premier U.S.-based lower-middle-market private equity firm, at a nine-figure 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 U.K. and Ireland’s most active growth capital investor, and positions the firm to continue expanding and accelerating 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 more than 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).

Mr. Jani commented: “This is a defining moment, not because of the capital, but because of what it represents. 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 at Southfield, 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.”

Adam Huckerby, Investor at BGF, commented: “This is a fantastic outcome and a remarkable achievement in a short period of time. 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.”

Southfield is a premier private equity firm with a foundational commitment to driving value at high-growth, lower-middle-market companies in the business services sector. The firm leverages its deep team of highly experienced investment, technology, and value-creation professionals, combined with fully integrated AI-driven capabilities, to partner with founders and manager-owned teams.

BGF was established in 2011 and has invested over £4.9 billion in more than 650 companies, making it the most active growth capital investor in the U.K. and Ireland. BGF provides minority, noncontrolling equity investments for growth-stage businesses, combining capital with long-term partnership and access to a nationwide network of expertise. BGF recently announced a commitment to invest £3 billion in U.K. businesses over the next five years.

Houlihan Lokey served as the exclusive financial advisor to the Metric shareholders. Houlihan Lokey’s Human Capital Management (HCM) team is among the most active M&A advisors in the market, having closed or announced 30+ transactions since 2021. This transaction further demonstrates the strength of Houlihan Lokey’s dedicated global HCM coverage and its track record advising market-leading talent and professional services businesses.

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