Spotlight: Eddy Ruggieri on serving as first M&A analyst for transaction services group

Eddy Ruggieri III has taken on a new role as M&A analyst with Charles Aris Transaction Services (CATS) after previously serving as an associate recruiter in the firm’s private equity fund-level recruiting practice.

Over 56 years in executive search, Charles Aris Inc. developed a specialty in partnering with private equity firms and their portfolio companies to hire top talent and, more recently, source founder-led businesses for proprietary transactions.

Related: Charles Aris launches new company to source business acquisitions for clients

Eddy says he’s excited to be working with the transactions team and has already had positive experiences partnering with clients and sourcing deals.

“CATS has provided me an opportunity to work hand-in-hand with seasoned veterans in a variety of fields, from our own tight-knit group to the countless CEOs, founders and private equity partners I interact with daily,” Ruggieri explained.

Eddy studied philosophy in college and never planned to pursue a career in business. But during his senior year, Eddy decided to join Charles Aris for a recruiting internship and was promptly hired as a full-time recruiter after graduation. He was drawn to executive recruiting because of the fast pace, exposure to top-tier professionals and the opportunity it provided.

In his time as an associate recruiter, Eddy worked on high-level search work and quickly found his niche in private equity. He says his proudest achievement has been helping multiple firms hire their first leader to stand up their portfolio operations team.

These positions pose an exciting challenge to find the right mix of financial acumen, operating experience and leadership ability to work across portfolio companies, and making successful placements further drove Eddy’s excitement to develop expertise in this niche.

Leaders in the Charles Aris private equity vertical recognized Eddy’s ability to engage high-profile executives and suggested to Sean Curley, managing director for CATS, that Eddy might be a good fit for the team should there ever be a hiring need.

At the time, Curley was balancing most of the client management and sourcing himself, so he liked the idea of bringing Eddy into the new role.

“Eddy’s strong interpersonal skills enable him to connect well with business founders, and his internal drive keeps him constantly identifying new ways to make those connections,” Curley said. “That talent and drive combined with his down-to-earth nature make Eddy a fantastic addition to the team.”

Soon after joining, Eddy realized the position aligned with his interests and offered a unique and exciting career path. While executive recruiting involves sourcing candidates from a broad pool, the transaction services field requires more targeted research to connect with business owners and find potential deals.

Eddy appreciates the precision and persistence required for this work, describing it as a different kind of challenge. He also enjoys building relationships with business owners and learning from their perspectives. Eddy says observing how CEOs approach decisions about selling their companies provides a level of insight that wasn’t available in his previous role, and he’s excited about the opportunity to grow his understanding of the M&A process.

For Eddy, the key to success in both recruiting and transaction services has been persistence, curiosity and a willingness to step outside of his comfort zone. Whether he’s sourcing top talent or uncovering potential deals, Eddy approaches his work with a mindset of continuous learning and improvement.

To learn more, contact Sean Curley at (336) 217-9125 or sean.curley@charlesaris.com.