Advancing Sustainable Finance Leadership

A pioneering blended finance fund, dedicated to transforming food and agriculture systems in emerging markets, set out to mobilize large-scale capital for forest conservation, sustainable agriculture, and food systems innovation. To drive its ambitious investment strategy, the fund required a Head of Origination and Structuring-an executive capable of shaping and executing complex, high-impact transactions. This case study details how House of Impact Talent Solutions (HOI) delivered a successful executive search, securing a transformational leader to accelerate the fund's mission.

Sourcing a Visionary for a Complex, Impact-Driven Role

The fund's mission is to channel public and private capital into sustainable land use and avert deforestation. With a focus on forest conservation, climate-smart agriculture, and food systems transformation, the organization needed a leader with deep expertise in debt capital markets, innovative deal structuring, and a strong commitment to sustainable finance.

The Head of Origination and Structuring role was designed to:

• Develop and execute a robust investment strategy aligned with the fund's risk-return and impact objectives
• Design and negotiate complex blended finance transactions that unlock new capital flows for sustainable agriculture and forest management
• Build and leverage relationships with banks, DFIs, corporates, and local partners to source and structure high-impact deals
• Lead and mentor a high-performing origination and structuring team, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration
• Operate effectively across 20 priority emerging markets, with a base in Amsterdam and flexibility for international engagement

The challenge: identify a candidate with a proven track record in debt capital markets, sectoral expertise in sustainable finance, and the leadership qualities to thrive in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment.

A Systematic, Network-Driven Executive Search

HOI implemented a rigorous, multi-layered search strategy tailored to the fund's unique requirements. The approach combined advanced market mapping, network intelligence, and sector expertise to ensure a diverse and highly qualified candidate pool.

Comprehensive Market Mapping

• Targeted professionals across major banks with emerging market focus, investment managers with private credit and EM coverage, DFIs, and public sector organizations, prioritizing those with commercial experience and a track record in sustainable finance
• Leveraged company websites, research papers, working groups, LinkedIn, and HOI's proprietary database of over 10,000 sustainability-focused professionals
• Engaged trusted contacts and industry peers to identify high-potential candidates and gain market intelligence on emerging talent

Criteria-Driven Shortlisting

Candidates were assessed against five key qualifying criteria:

• Origination Track Record and Structuring Skills: Demonstrated ability to source, originate, and structure complex financial transactions, especially in blended finance and climate-related sectors
• Leadership and Cultural Fit: Experience leading teams and thriving in collaborative, entrepreneurial settings aligned with the fund's values
• Network Strength: Depth and relevance of professional relationships with DFIs, banks, and sector partners
• Thematic Knowledge and Sector Expertise: In-depth understanding of agri-finance, climate finance, and emerging markets
• Geographic Flexibility and Commitment: Willingness and ability to operate from Amsterdam and travel as needed

Rigorous Evaluation and Stakeholder Engagement

• Developed a shortlist of seven candidates, each bringing substantial experience in sustainable finance, project structuring, and emerging market transactions
• Maintained regular updates and feedback loops with the fund's leadership to ensure alignment on evolving priorities and cultural fit
• Provided structured interview frameworks to assess both technical and leadership competencies, as well as commitment to the fund's mission

Securing a Transformational Leader

The search resulted in the appointment of a candidate whose profile exemplified the ideal blend of technical expertise, leadership, and sector commitment.

Origination Track Record and Structuring Skills

The successful candidate brought a strong record in designing and executing innovative financing structures across sectors and geographies. Achievements included:

• Structuring a €500m sustainability-linked borrowing base for agricultural traders, integrating social KPIs to benefit smallholder farmers
• Developing €1bn umbrella facilities for clean energy scale-up, demonstrating creativity in blended finance
• Hands-on experience with a range of instruments, from revolving credit facilities to project finance, all with embedded ESG criteria

Leadership and Cultural Fit

Her leadership experience included team management, strategic guidance to C-suite executives, and cross-functional collaboration with sustainability teams. She demonstrated:

• Mentorship and professional development of origination teams
• Hands-on involvement throughout the deal cycle, from concept to implementation
• Comfort with entrepreneurial, collaborative environments and building frameworks from the ground up

Network Strength

The candidate's network included:

• Robust relationships with major European banks, multilateral institutions, and DFIs
• Experience across London, Milan, Munich, and Moscow, providing access to key stakeholders in both developed and emerging markets

Thematic Knowledge and Sector Expertise

She offered:

• Deep expertise in agricultural finance, structuring deals for commodities like coffee, cocoa, and cotton with social incentives
• Experience financing decarbonization projects in hard-to-abate industries, integrating ESG-linked incentives
• Recent certification in Impact Investing from Oxford University, reinforcing her commitment to impact-aligned strategies

Geographic Flexibility and Commitment

• Based in Europe with a history of international mobility, she demonstrated readiness for Amsterdam-based collaboration and frequent travel

The fund secured a transformational leader with the vision, skills, and network to drive its mission forward, mobilizing capital for sustainable land use and food systems transformation in the world's most critical markets.

Impact Beyond Placement

This project highlights HOI's ability to deliver strategic talent solutions for mission-driven organizations operating at the intersection of finance, sustainability, and innovation. By combining deep sector knowledge, network intelligence, and a rigorous, criteria-driven approach, HOI enabled the fund to strengthen its leadership and accelerate its impact in sustainable agriculture finance.

Shape the Future of Sustainable Finance

Are you ready to lead the transition to sustainable food and agriculture systems? Join the House of Impact talent network and connect with opportunities that align your expertise with purpose-driven organizations. Be part of a community driving real change, where your next role could help shape a more sustainable future.

Join us today and make your impact count.