The impact of renewed deal optimism on corporate development hiring

After several years of delayed exits, dealmakers entered 2026 with renewed optimism.

Private equity firms anticipate rising transaction volume, and hiring leaders are reassessing how their M&A functions are structured and whether they have the personnel to execute strong deals.

As a result, 2026 is shaping up to be less about filling individual contributor roles and more about building scalable, durable M&A organizations capable of executing sustained growth strategies.

The state of the M&A market

Stabilizing interest rates and mounting pressure on private equity firms to deploy capital are pushing buyers back into the market with conviction.

Estimates place more than one trillion dollars of capital still waiting to be invested, creating urgency to source and close deals rather than sit on the sidelines.

At the same time, AI innovations are becoming a real value driver, fueling innovation in portfolio companies and creating movement in the software sector as more AI products hit the market.

Boards across industries are pursuing acquisitions with these factors in mind to secure infrastructure, data assets and specialized talent that cannot be built quickly in-house.

What a market uptick could mean for corporate development hiring

Over the past year, many organizations focused on hiring mid-level talent, often choosing “rising star” candidates who could support selective transactions without building large teams. Those roles were typically individual contributors with limited management responsibility.

Related: 2026 Corporate Development Compensation Report

In 2026, demand will likely shift toward more senior leaders. Companies are increasingly seeking proven senior vice presidents or heads of corporate development who can lead programs at scale, manage teams and articulate a clear investment narrative to stakeholders.

This shift could also drive significant follow-up hiring at the junior level. We began seeing more demand for junior-level roles last year, indicating that corporate development teams had already begun laying groundwork for what could be an active year in M&A.

Senior leaders want associates, senior associates and managers beneath them to support ambitious M&A activity, unlike rising stars who felt comfortable owning the entire function. As optimism continues to spike, the era of the one-person M&A function could fade.

Furthermore, a more robust corporate development hiring landscape means more potential for segmented business development, integration and operational roles. The ability to source strong pipelines and execute post-transaction strategy has become a key differentiator for strong corporate development teams.

What industries are in demand for 2026?

The business services sector continues to drive M&A activity and corporate development hiring, supported by fragmented markets and clear buy-and-build opportunities.

Healthcare, which experienced a historic slowdown last year, appears positioned for renewed activity as valuations stabilize.

Technology still accounts for the largest share of deal value overall, though software activity remains slower than in prior cycles. Many investors believe a rebound is coming as confidence returns and AI solutions continue entering the market.

The takeaway

The outlook for M&A in 2026 points to sustained deal volume and increasing organizational complexity. For corporate development functions, this means moving beyond lean teams and reactive hiring toward intentional, scalable structures led by experienced operators.

While capital will always find its way to the strongest investors, the firms best positioned to succeed will be those that invest early in the talent required to keep pace with a rapidly evolving deal landscape.