Head of Distribution

Sagard Overview

Sagard Holdings ("Sagard") is a multi-strategy alternative asset manager with professionals located in North America, Europe, and the Middle East. Since 2016, Sagard has grown exponentially. Assets under management have expanded from US$500M to over US$25B, and Sagard’s team of diverse professionals has grown from 50 to over 300 team members.

Sagard invests across four asset classes: Venture Capital, Private Equity, Private Credit, and Real Estate. Sagard Holdings was founded by Power Corporation of Canada as a complement to its global investment holdings and serves as one of its key strategic priorities with strong, long-term growth objectives.

Sagard’s entrepreneurial DNA is palpable across our entire team and is a platform built by entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs. Sagard looks to generate attractive returns by matching investment opportunities with flexible capital solutions and pairing entrepreneurs with teams that have deep industry knowledge. Sagard develops long-term partnerships and empowers the growth of its investments through a unique global network of portfolio companies, limited partners, advisors, and other valued relationships. 

More at https://www.sagard.com/.

Job Overview 

As a member of the Private Wealth Solutions Group, the Head of Distribution will develop and execute the distribution strategy for Sagard’s purpose-built private wealth funds and expand the firm’s overall footprint in the space, with a focus on driving growth in assets under management from the private wealth advisor channels. In the short term, this may include overseeing any external marketing service providers as our products gain critical mass, and over time may include building and managing an in-house distribution team. In this role, the Head of Distribution will collaborate closely with other members of the Private Wealth Solutions group to design tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of private wealth clients, as well as with the Communications, Capital Formation and Investor Relations teams at the firm. 

The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of private markets, a robust network within the private wealth space, and a proven track record of raising capital from private wealth channels. They will be expected to provide strategic direction and work collaboratively across internal teams to achieve the firm’s objectives in the private wealth space.

This is a unique opportunity to join a leading alternative asset manager and contribute to the expansion of its private wealth distribution efforts in Canada and abroad.

Your Responsibilities:

• In alignment with Sagard’s vision and strategy, drive the development and execution of Sagard’s distribution strategy for its private wealth products across all asset classes (e.g., credit, real estate, venture capital and private equity)
• Build and maintain deep, long-term relationships with both current and potential key private wealth clients and partners
• Develop and maintain a pipeline of partnership opportunities to expand distribution of Sagard’s product shelf to the private wealth market
• Coordinate internal distribution resources (e.g., Capital Formation team members distributing to family offices and HNWIs), and over time, establish, manage and grow a high-performing distribution team within the Private Wealth Solutions group
• Oversee any external distribution resources (e.g., third-party marketing partner) supporting the execution of the distribution strategy, and work closely together to ensure satisfactory results
• Collaborate with the Communications team to develop compelling messaging, educational content (e.g., white papers, websites), and marketing campaigns that effectively target and engage private wealth audiences
• Attend conferences and participate in speaking engagements to further awareness of Sagard’s offering to the private wealth segment
• In collaboration with the Head of Strategy and Operations, establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of our distribution strategy and tactics, track progress against targets, and report on outcomes to Sagard senior leadership
• Maintain private wealth fundraising data on Sagard’s CRM (e.g., meeting notes, flows reporting)
• Collaborate with Group Head and Head of Strategy & Operations to launch compelling new products (e.g., validate positioning and differentiators, provide input on marketing materials)
• Plan and coordinate the senior leadership roadshow following product launches
• Monitor trends and shifts in the private wealth market, including regulatory changes, industry trends, and competitor strategies, to ensure the firm remains competitive and responsive to client needs
• Contribute to the development of a product roadmap that spans multiple channels/partners and leverages the firm’s strategic relationship with Power Corporation of Canada (“PCC”), the PCC ecosystem and other private asset manager partners

Experience Requirements:

• Previous extensive work experience in the Asset Management industry (particularly private or alternative assets) and relevant distribution experience, with demonstrated success
• Strong familiarity with the available distribution channel opportunities for private wealth products
• Strong devotion to operational excellence and track record of execution
• Superior decision-making, strategic influencing, and leadership skills, to develop and execute on private wealth fundraising initiatives
• Persuasive verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to build credibility and trust with colleagues and clients and communicate ideas effectively
• Highly organized and task-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, cross-functional team environment
• Strong relationship management skills, internally and externally
• Self-motivated with the ability to make sound decisions with minimal direction
• Expert organizational skills and a strong attention to detail

Qualification Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s (equivalent or higher) degree or relevant experience
• Professional designation (e.g., MBA, CFA) is considered an asset
• Deep knowledge of the Canadian investment industry and private wealth markets
• Expansive network of private wealth advisors (especially those most influential in their domain) at Canadian bank and independent dealers
• 5+ years of experience distributing private wealth products and overseeing internal and/or outsourced distribution teams