How Axon Moore used PitchBook to place a top executive candidate

From tracking senior-level candidates to monitoring funding rounds and identifying high-growth companies, PitchBook is an end-to-end solution for placing top talent beyond Axon Moore’s network.

Executive Researcher Jennie Adamson used PitchBook at a previous firm and championed bringing it with her.

Closing a high-level placement with a single PitchBook search

Using PitchBook, Axon Moore was able to complete an executive level search in a matter of weeks.

When a client came to Axon Moore with a highly specific requirement for a CFO position, Adamson went straight to PitchBook — and found exactly what she needed.

“It was a relatively simple search. I was looking for a CFO from a professional services business that had been through an IPO in the last five years. So instead of scrolling through LinkedIn, I ran a targeted list for companies that had floated within a set time period,” Adamson said.

Not only were they able to fulfill the client request, but they went from starting the search to interviews in just a matter of weeks.

“It was simple because we got the information quickly. It would have taken far longer without Pitchbook and certain businesses and candidates may never have become apparent to us,” said Callum.

The candidate placed was a precise match for what the client wanted.

Using PitchBook to track the markets and stay ahead of industry trends

The company uses a broader PitchBook workflow built around tracking timely market activity. On a weekly basis, the research team compiles a list of recent transactions. Even with well-rooted connections and a strong market network, they don’t hear everything that’s happening, so PitchBook fills that gap.

PitchBook keeps Axon Moore ahead of key market shifts through alerts that track deals and identify the advisors behind them. These workflows allow the team to monitor target companies, and track market activity, so they can approach candidates with precisely the right background.

Market alerts and deal tracking serve multiple purposes: keeping the team informed on market activity and enabling them to stay in touch with contacts, follow new developments, and identify advisors on deals where they already have relationships.

Growing their reach and services with PitchBook

PitchBook is now the first place Axon Moore turns to for company information ahead of client meetings and when sourcing candidates. The granular detail on industries and verticals feeds directly into target list generation, helping the team get to the most relevant prospects faster.

“PitchBook is an enabler for us to widen our services,” said Colgrave. “It gives you a really solid background when you’re pitching to a client, something that’s pretty impressive in terms of the comprehensive nature of the information available.”

The executive search practice now uses PitchBook on almost every assignment, particularly for searches where the team’s network might be less established. By underpinning their process with PitchBook, they ensure no potentially relevant candidate goes unnoticed.

That confidence carries through to the pitch itself. “We very seldom walk away from a client pitch thinking we won’t be able to find the candidate,” said Colgrave. “We know if we combine our market knowledge, our networks, key referrers and utilize PitchBook effectively then we’ll cover the right ground.”

Frequently utilized PitchBook resources

Market alerts: Get instant notifications on funding rounds, exits, and capital events to trigger outreach at exactly the right moment and stay ahead of board-level change.

Company profiles: Access AI summaries and detailed, data-driven context on ownership structures, investment history, and financials to walk into client meetings fully prepared.

People search: Quickly identify and verify candidates by searching for executives across industries, deal histories, and company backgrounds, all in one place.

Deal tracking: Gain comprehensive visibility into transactions as they happen, from regional deals to market-wide activity, to surface opportunities beyond existing networks.