Head of Deal Origination (Sell-Side M&A)

Head of Deal Origination (Sell-Side M&A)

London | Senior, revenue-generating appointment | Reports to Founder

Chapter International is building a new kind of investment bank. Our ambition is to become the most exciting, globally established, AI-native specialist investment bank across Consumer & eCommerce, Digital Marketing & Agencies, and SaaS. We advise founders and shareholders on the sale of their businesses and other strategic transactions, combining specialist transaction expertise with entrepreneurial thinking and a technology-first approach. Approximately 70% of our mandates are in the US, and we are building an international platform with genuinely global ambitions.

We have grown rapidly, but our ambition goes well beyond the size of the firm today. We are investing in talented people, AI-enabled workflows and a scalable origination engine to establish Chapter as the go-to adviser in our chosen verticals worldwide. We are looking for someone who wants to help build that firm, not simply manage a sales team or inherit an existing pipeline.

This is a senior, hands-on, directly revenue-generating position. Your mission is to independently identify outstanding founder-led businesses, develop trusted relationships and win retained sell-side M&A mandates. You will own the origination lifecycle from first approach through valuation discussion, pitch and signed engagement, working directly with the Founder to shape the next stage of Chapter’s growth.

The role

• Own the complete sell-side origination lifecycle: target identification, proactive outreach, founder engagement, qualification, pitching, commercial negotiation and signed mandate.
• Independently build repeatable sources of opportunities beyond the firm’s existing network, including direct outreach, referral partners, sector relationships and relevant industry events.
• Lead founder and shareholder conversations, assess transaction readiness, review financial information and discuss indicative valuations and suitable deal structures.
• Work with the M&A execution team on valuation analysis, pitch materials and transaction positioning; retain commercial ownership through mandate conversion.
• Build, maintain and actively advance a high-quality, accurately recorded pipeline; manage conversion performance and forecast new mandate and retainer revenue.
• Develop ambitious, measurable origination plans across Consumer & eCommerce, Digital Marketing & Agencies, and SaaS; strengthen relationships with founders, advisers, financial sponsors and strategic acquirers, and create new acquisition channels for mandates.
• Partner with the Founder on commercial strategy and, as the function scales, recruit, coach and lead a wider origination team.

What we are looking for

• Substantial relevant experience in M&A advisory, corporate finance or investment banking, coupled with clear commercial origination capability.
• A demonstrable personal record of sourcing opportunities and winning advisory engagements; able to explain prospecting methods, specific conversions, negotiations and revenue originated.
• Confidence independently leading founder discussions, interpreting company financials, assessing transaction suitability and communicating credible valuation perspectives.
• Exceptional relationship-building, communication, commercial judgement and follow-through; comfortable with proactive outbound activity and clear performance accountability.
• Candidates from private equity, investment or corporate development will be considered only where they can evidence genuine founder-facing advisory client acquisition or comparable sell-side origination.
• Relevant sector and cross-border transaction experience is advantageous; enthusiasm for a technology-first, AI-native approach and willingness to travel internationally are important. German or Spanish language skills are a plus.

Why Chapter International?

This is a rare opportunity to put your own stamp on a commercial function, rather than inherit someone else’s playbook. You will have direct access to the Founder, genuine decision-making authority and the freedom to build relationships, shape new origination channels and turn your ideas into measurable results. We are creating an environment for ambitious dealmakers who value high standards, personal accountability and shared success, and who want the next chapter of their career to mean building something, not merely joining it.

#J-18808-Ljbffr