November 5, 2025 – Global talent advisory firm Maven Partnership has made three senior appointments, in New York, London and Dubai, that will play pivotal roles in accelerating the firm’s global growth and deepening its sector expertise. The firm has added Mike Flood as managing partner, Americas (New York), Lewis Ward as partner, investment management and global commodities (London), and Adam El Balawi as partner, global banking (Dubai).
“The addition of Mike, Lewis, and Adam marks another significant step forward as we execute on our vision of partnering with clients to address their most important strategic challenges across talent, business intelligence, and capital,” said Will Hannaford, CEO of Maven Partnership. “Each brings market insight, leadership experience, and trusted relationships that will accelerate our growth and deepen our impact. These appointments mark a significant milestone in the firm’s continued expansion across key markets and practice areas.”
Mr. Flood joins as managing partner in the firm’s New York office. He joins Maven Partnership from Riviera Partners, where he led the financial services practice. Prior to this, he was the co-founder of Westwood Partners, a specialist financial services executive search firm which he led from 2002 to 2024. Mr. Flood brings experience across investment management, private markets, and banking.
“Mike is one of the most respected figures in our industry,” said Gaurav Sethi, founder of Maven Partnership. “He brings with him a remarkable track record and deep client relationships, and we’re delighted to have him alongside us as we build the pre-eminent talent and advisory business within, and beyond, financial services. His strategic leadership and global network will be instrumental in supporting Maven Partnership’s ambitious growth plans in the U.S. and internationally, as the firm works toward its goal of becoming the leading global talent advisory partner in the financial services sector.”
Based in London, Mr. Ward joins Maven Partnership as a partner in the investment management practice, where he will lead the global commodities vertical and help expand the firm’s discretionary investment platform.
Mr. Ward most recently worked at Principal Search, where he partnered with hedge funds and investor-backed clients to place business heads, revenue generators, and entire teams across trading, research, and analytics – spanning both fundamental and quantitative strategies. He has also held roles at Blackwood Group and Rice Search Partners, gaining broad experience across investment management, private markets, and corporate search mandates globally.
“Lewis brings deep sector expertise and a proven pedigree of delivering at the highest level, further strengthening our leading investment management team, which has an established track record in the hedge fund and alternatives space.” said Mr. Hannaford. “Attracting exceptional talent remains central to how we deliver the greatest value to our clients as we continue to grow and expand our offering in alignment with them.”
Mr. El-Balawi joins Maven Partnership as a partner in the global banking practice and will lead the firm’s expansion across the Middle East, operating out of its Dubai office. With over 25 years of executive search experience, he has deep expertise advising clients across banking, sovereign wealth funds, private equity, asset management, family offices, and fintech.
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Mr. El-Balawi previously held senior positions with Kingsley Gate Partners, Sheffield Haworth, and Principal Search, and has been a key advisor to both international institutions entering the GCC and regional organizations navigating leadership succession, governance, and transformation.
“Adam’s expertise in the Middle East market makes him a valuable addition to the Partnership as we grow our regional footprint,” said James Rudofsky, chief operating officer at Maven Partnership. “His experience and trusted network positions us to strengthen our presence in the region and better support our expanding client network on the ground.”
Recent Rebranding
Formerly known as Maven Search, Maven Partnership works across board & leadership, global banking & markets, investment management, technology, applied AI & data, private capital, and energy transition & sustainable investing. “We are purpose-built for partners who expect the exceptional,” the firm said.
The rebrand introduces a bold new visual identity rooted in AI-generated imagery, focusing on close-ups of exceptional, rare materials that mirror the precision behind its partnerships. The brand’s new tagline “exceptional expects” reinforces that excellence is not accidental, but a standard.
“Maven Partnership signals a strategic evolution,” said Mr. Hannaford. “Our new identity reflects the level of thought, focus, and care we bring to our partnerships.”
“This rebrand isn’t just about a new name,” added Lucy Whyte, head of marketing at Maven Partnership. “It’s a bold, differentiated expression of who we are, using AI-generated visuals to showcase our precision and commitment to exceptional results.”
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
