Dartmouth Perspectives: Q2 2025
Dartmouth Partners
Recruiting excellence from Classroom to Boardroom™ across the breadth of financial and professional services.
Welcome back to our Perspectives!
As we move into the second half of the year, we're building on a strong start - with our best first half since 2022, 35% YoY growth, and our strongest quarter as a Group since the market peak that year, there's a lot to share.
Inside this edition, you’ll find key takeaways from our consultants’ recent trips and conversations, fresh perspectives on how macro and micro trends are reshaping talent strategies, and our latest research to help you stay ahead, whether you’re building your team or planning your next career move.
This quarter, our teams have been out on the ground, connecting with clients, candidates, and industry leaders. From packed trips to Boston and insightful market updates from Charlotte, to candid conversations on the future of AI leadership, our consultants have been sharing what they’re seeing, learning, and delivering every day.
Our work is about more than just filling roles - it’s about partnering with ambitious organisations to solve their most pressing talent challenges, whether that’s building next-generation investment teams, appointing transformative leaders, or staying ahead of trends shaping the future of work. Take a look at some of the key trends they're seeing in the market.
Daisy Forden-Keech and Matthew Quillen just wrapped up a packed trip to Boston - meeting with clients, candidates, prospects, and the Boston Red Sox. A major win (literally) and marks another important step for our US teams as we accelerate our US fund-level and portfolio-level hiring capabilities.
According to our 2025 Gen Z Survey, Boston is the 2nd most desirable city for this generation to launch their career - not that far behind New York City. With many of our clients in 'growth mode', Boston's reputation as a destination for ambitious investment and portfolio talent is quickly on the rise. It's an exciting time for us to be the partner of choice for funds building high-impact teams, whether developing the next-generation Associate cohort or appointing C-suite leaders.
Delivering these opportunities to the right talent, exactly when our clients need them, is at the core of Dartmouth's approach. We're eager to continue supporting leading organisations as they strengthen and develop their teams. If we missed you this time - or if you're an investor or candidate based in Boston - let's connect. We look forward to seeing you in Q3!
Charlotte is experiencing rapid growth - but with that growth comes complexity.
In his latest market update, David Croft, who leads our Finance into Fund practice in the US, shares his perspective on what’s really happening on the ground in Charlotte and the surrounding regions. Drawing from real-time conversations with both clients and candidates, David explores how economic momentum is clashing with talent challenges, and why the coming months could prove pivotal for employers across the financial services and professional sectors.
Whether you're a business leader trying to navigate hiring strategies, a professional considering your next move, or simply interested in understanding how macro and micro trends are shaping one of America’s fastest-growing cities - this is an update you won’t want to miss. And if you're building your finance team or looking for insight into current hiring trends in the buy-side, reach out to David Croft directly.
AI has become the buzzword on every board agenda - but while the hype grows, so does the complexity of turning it into real business value. Many organisations are racing to adopt AI and data-led strategies, yet struggle to find the leadership capable of driving meaningful transformation. The real challenge isn’t just technical know-how; it’s identifying leaders who can translate innovation into impact, and align data and AI with strategic goals.
At Dartmouth, our Tech Leadership team helps organisations solve this challenge. Within the team, our data-specialist consultants focus on finding and placing forward-thinking leaders who combine deep domain expertise with commercial vision.
Hear from our data experts, Jake Seymour and Jack Ashley, as they discuss how we help clients cut through the noise and what defines truly effective leadership in today’s AI-driven industry. Visit our website to learn more about our Technology Leadership team and how they can support your AI and data strategy.
We were thrilled to share some exciting news from the Dartmouth team!
A huge congratulations to our CEO, Terri Loska, on her shortlisting for Agency Recruitment Leader of the Year at this year’s Recruiter Awards. This recognition is a testament to Terri’s inclusive leadership, bringing to life her exciting vision of expanding Dartmouth into new specialisms and the positive impact she continues to have on all of our global teams.
Terri’s ability to inspire and lead with integrity has shaped a culture of excellence and ambition. Her influence extends beyond our business, setting new standards for what great leadership in recruitment looks like. Congratulations, Terri - we’ll keep our fingers crossed for September!
2025 Industry Insights Reports
Strategy and Corporate Development Compensation Guide
This is your go-to resource for making strategic, insight-driven hiring and career decisions. Backed by our sector expertise and built from real market data, this guide presents the latest compensation insights, highlights shifts in market demand, and reveals actionable trends for the year ahead.
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Understanding compensation trends is no longer just useful - it is essential for attracting the sought-after talent, sustaining business growth, and benchmarking your value in the industry. Request your copy here.
Investment Banking Compensation Survey
In a market where top performers are moving faster, negotiating harder, and expecting more, you need to know how your offering compares. And how to stand out. Our Investment Banking Compensation Report spotlights:
- fluctuating salary ranges across Analyst to MD levels
- how talent expectations have shifted in the last 12 months
- where firms are falling short in retaining top-tier talent
- what’s driving candidate movement, and what’s slowing it.
We provide you with the context behind the first-hand data, drawn from our conversations and market intelligence across the investment banking and financial industry. Whether you're hiring now or planning ahead, this report provides the insight needed to align your talent strategy with real market conditions. Request your copy of the report here.
Gen Z Hiring Trends Report
This year’s report draws on insights from nearly 1,000 Gen Z respondents, including students, recent graduates, and early-career professionals. It explores the issues that matter most to them, from pay and career progression to AI, inclusion, and the workplace culture they expect.
The report also uncovers how Gen Z feels about in-person working, including the shift back to the office five days a week. And crucially, it reveals what makes them stay, what makes them leave, and what employers can do to earn their trust and long-term commitment.
Whether you’re hiring interns, analysts, graduates, or junior professionals, this report offers clear, actionable insights to help you attract, engage, and retain the next generation of top talent. Request your copy here.
The AI hiring arms race: Why the best processes still rely on people
As AI continues to redefine industries, recruitment is no exception. Tools powered by artificial intelligence are rapidly accelerating hiring timelines, improving candidate matching, and streamlining assessments.
But here’s the catch: even the most advanced systems can't replace what makes a truly effective hiring process work - the human touch.
In our latest article, our CEO Terri Loska explores a critical question: Is AI enhancing recruitment or replacing it? The answer lies in how companies balance technology with the emotional intelligence, judgment, and contextual thinking that only people can provide.
If you're a leader, HR professional, or business exec thinking about the future of hiring, this read is for you. Read the full article here.
Tech-driven finance: careers at the crossroads of two industries
The financial services industry is changing fast, and those who adapt early will shape its future.
AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and digital platforms are no longer optional add-ons; they’re redefining how financial institutions operate, compete, and grow. This shift is creating a new generation of leadership roles at the intersection of finance and technology.
At Dartmouth, we’re seeing increasing demand for experts who can lead this transformation - from CTOs and digital product leaders to heads of data and cybersecurity. In our latest article, we explore what’s driving this change, the skills that are now in highest demand, and why this moment presents a unique opportunity for both professionals and businesses to get ahead.
Want to shape the future of tech-driven finance? Get in touch with our Technology Leadership team today at technologyleadership@dartmouthpartners.com
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