Senior Vice President / Managing Director, Corporate Communications
Financial Services, Private Markets | ICR, LLC | New York, NY or Norwalk, CT
ICR, one of the fastest-growing strategic communications and advisory firms globally, is seeking a Senior Vice President or Managing Director to help lead and expand its Financial & Professional Services practice, with a focus on private markets. This senior leadership role offers the opportunity to work directly with leading private equity firms, private credit managers, alternative asset managers, banks, insurance companies, and other financial institutions.
The successful candidate will play a central role in shaping the strategic direction, market positioning, and long-term growth of ICR’s Financial Services practice. This individual will advise clients through high-stakes situations, originate new business, cultivate senior relationships across the private markets ecosystem, and help expand one of the industry’s premier financial communications and advisory platforms.
Overview
We are seeking a highly strategic and entrepreneurial communications and advisory leader with deep expertise in financial services and private markets. The ideal candidate will bring a combination of senior client counseling experience, transaction advisory expertise, industry relationships, and business development capabilities. This individual will help shape the future growth of ICR’s Financial Services practice while serving as a trusted advisor to leading firms, executives, investors, and boards.
The role will focus on advising private equity firms, private credit managers, real estate investors, venture capital firms, alternative asset managers, and a broad range of financial institutions. The successful candidate will be expected to lead and expand senior client relationships, originate new business, mentor talent, and contribute meaningfully to the practice’s revenue growth and profitability.
The ideal candidate will have a track record of helping organizations navigate transformative and reputation-sensitive moments, including mergers and acquisitions, IPOs, SPAC transactions, capital raises, fund launches, and fundraising initiatives. This individual will also identify and pursue opportunities for ICR’s specialized practices, including Crisis & Special Situations, Governance Advisory, Shareholder & Activism Advisory, and Capital Markets Advisory.
ICR is defined by its entrepreneurial spirit, collaborative culture, and capital markets heritage. As a senior leader within the firm, this individual will be expected to embody those values while helping shape the future direction of the Financial Services practice and the broader organization.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as a trusted advisor to CEOs, C-suite executives, boards of directors, private equity sponsors, and other senior stakeholders on complex business, financial, transactional, and reputational matters.
- Lead strategic communications and advisory programs for private equity firms, private credit managers, alternative asset managers, real estate investors, financial institutions, and related organizations.
- Manage high-stakes transactions and special situations, including M&A, IPOs, SPAC transactions, crises, capital raises, fund launches, and fundraising initiatives.
- Identify and pursue cross-practice opportunities involving ICR’s specialized capabilities, including Crisis & Special Situations, Governance Advisory, Shareholder & Activism Advisory, and Capital Markets Advisory.
- Develop and shape compelling narratives that support clients’ business strategies, fundraising objectives, transaction outcomes, stakeholder engagement, and long-term value creation.
- Provide executive-level counsel on corporate positioning, media strategy, reputation management, investor and stakeholder engagement, and crisis communications.
- Drive revenue growth, profitability, and new business origination within the Financial Services practice.
- Identify, cultivate, and convert new business opportunities across private markets and the broader financial services ecosystem.
- Develop and maintain relationships with corporate executives, board members, private equity professionals, private credit managers, investment bankers, investors, attorneys, consultants, and other market participants.
- Collaborate with senior leaders across Investor Relations, Capital Markets Advisory, Crisis & Special Situations, Governance Advisory, Shareholder & Activism Advisory, and Digital Strategy to deliver integrated client solutions.
- Lead multidisciplinary teams in the execution of complex engagements, ensuring the highest standards of strategic counsel, client service, and execution.
- Build, mentor, and scale high-performing teams while fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, accountability, and professional development.
- Serve as a market-facing ambassador for ICR through industry engagement, thought leadership, speaking opportunities, and relationship development.
- Help shape the strategic direction, market positioning, service offerings, and long-term growth plans of the Financial Services practice.
Qualifications
- 15+ years of experience in strategic communications, financial advisory, investor relations, capital markets, financial journalism, or a related field.
- Deep knowledge of financial services and private markets, including private equity, private credit, real estate, venture capital, and alternative investments.
- Significant experience advising public and private companies, financial institutions, asset managers, investment sponsors, senior executives, and boards on complex business and communications matters.
- Demonstrated success managing high-profile transactions, special situations, or reputation-sensitive engagements.
- An extensive personal network spanning corporate executives, board members, investment bankers, private equity professionals, attorneys, consultants, and other key market participants.
- A demonstrated entrepreneurial track record of originating new business, developing senior client relationships, growing revenue-generating engagements, and shaping financial narratives.
- Experience leading and scaling an advisory practice, business unit, or revenue-generating client service team is strongly preferred.
- Strong commercial instincts and an entrepreneurial mindset, with the ability to identify and capitalize on market opportunities.
- Exceptional strategic thinking, executive presence, judgment, and client counseling capabilities.
- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including experience advising C-suite executives and boards.
- Bachelor’s degree required; an advanced degree or relevant financial credentials are a plus.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Bloomberg Terminal, as well as AI platforms such as Claude and Microsoft Copilot.