Simon Nixon is the Managing Director and Founder of Carpenter Farraday. Since establishing the firm in 2006, he has grown it into a specialist executive search consultancy serving private markets investors, asset managers and private banks across Europe.
With more than twenty years of experience in Private Markets, Simon has developed deep expertise across the full investment ecosystem, spanning private equity, private credit and real assets. He specialises in senior-level fundraising, investor relations and liquidity solutions roles, including mandates within the growing secondary markets landscape. Simon continues to lead many of the firm’s most complex searches, working closely with major institutional clients on appointments that shape long-term investment outcomes.
Simon’s perspective is informed by two decades spent partnering with professionals at every stage of their careers – from early-career investment specialists through to senior leaders. This long-term visibility gives him nuanced insight into capability, behavioural fit and career trajectory, enabling clients to make assured decisions about individuals who will contribute and stay.
Before founding Carpenter Farraday, Simon worked in corporate risk management and executive search, specialising in risk-focused roles. This experience provides practical context and a detailed understanding of how firms assess and manage operational, organisational and investment-related risk.
Alongside directing the firm’s strategic growth and client relationships, he remains hands-on across key mandates.