Stuart Brain

As a Senior Client Partner at Korn Ferry in London, Stuart advises leading private equity firms and their portfolio companies across Europe and globally. He helps investors and management teams unlock value by building high-performing boards and leadership teams that drive growth and transformation.

Stuart’s work spans the full investment cycle, from pre-deal advisory to leadership assessment, succession planning, and executive search. He partners with private equity firms to appoint senior investment professionals and operating partners, while also hiring Chairs, NEDs, CEOs, CFOs, and other key executives into portfolio companies.

Stuart leads Korn Ferry’s private equity initiatives across the financial services sector, as well as in adjacent business services and technology verticals. He also oversees Korn Ferry’s work in the fund administration and corporate services sectors, having partnered with many mid- and large-cap private equity–backed businesses in these areas.

Before joining Korn Ferry, Stuart worked at a specialist advisory and executive search firm focused on private equity, where he led the financial services sector across offices in London, Munich, New York, and Paris. Earlier in his career, he spent thirteen years with two global professional services firms. He established the UK Management Consulting Practice at one, and later launched the UK Bank Restructuring and Consulting Practice at the other.

Stuart is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and holds a degree in Economics.