A leading blended finance fund, focused on transforming food and agriculture systems in emerging markets, set out to mobilise large-scale capital for forest conservation, sustainable agriculture, and food systems innovation. To deliver on its ambitious investment strategy, the fund needed an expereinced investor with the expertise to design and execute complex, high-impact transactions across multiple geographies.

Challenge

The fund’s mission is to channel public and private capital into sustainable land use and avert deforestation. The Head of Origination & Structuring would be responsible for developing and executing a robust investment strategy, designing innovative blended finance transactions, and building relationships with banks, DFIs, corporates, and local partners. The role required deep expertise in debt capital markets, a proven track record in structuring complex deals, and the leadership to build and mentor a high-performing team. The search demanded a candidate with sectoral expertise in sustainable finance, strong networks, and the ability to operate across 20 priority emerging markets from a base in Amsterdam.

Approach

House of Impact Talent Solutions (HOI) designed a systematic, network-driven executive search tailored to the fund’s requirements. The process combined advanced market mapping, network intelligence, and sector expertise to ensure a diverse and highly qualified candidate pool.

• Comprehensive market mapping targeted professionals from major banks, investment managers, DFIs, and public sector organisations with experience in sustainable finance and emerging markets.
• HOI leveraged its proprietary database of over 10,000 sustainability-focused professionals, alongside company websites, research, and industry networks.
• Candidates were assessed against five key criteria: origination and structuring track record, leadership and cultural fit, network strength, thematic knowledge, and geographic flexibility.
• Regular feedback loops with the fund’s leadership ensured alignment on evolving priorities and cultural fit.

Outcome

HOI delivered a shortlist of seven candidates, each with substantial experience in sustainable finance, project structuring, and emerging market transactions. The appointed candidate brought a strong record in designing and executing innovative financing structures, including:

• 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 revolving credit facilities, project finance, and ESG-linked instruments.

Her leadership experience included managing origination teams, providing strategic guidance to C-suite executives, and collaborating with sustainability teams. She demonstrated mentorship, hands-on involvement throughout the deal cycle, and comfort in entrepreneurial, collaborative environments.

The candidate’s network spanned major European banks, multilateral institutions, and DFIs, with experience across London, Milan, Munich, and Moscow. She brought deep expertise in agricultural finance, structuring deals for commodities with social incentives, and financing decarbonisation projects in hard-to-abate industries. Recent certification in Impact Investing from Oxford University reinforced her commitment to impact-aligned strategies. Based in Europe with a history of international mobility, she was ready for Amsterdam-based collaboration and frequent travel.

Placement Impact

The fund secured a transformational leader with the vision, skills, and network to drive its mission forward—mobilising capital for sustainable land use and food systems transformation in critical markets. This project demonstrates HOI’s ability to deliver strategic talent solutions for mission-driven organisations at the intersection of finance, sustainability, and innovation.

If you’re ready to lead the transition to sustainable food and agriculture systems, join the House of Impact talent network. Connect with opportunities that align your expertise with purpose-driven organisations and help shape a more sustainable future.