David Barrett

David, founder of David Barrett Partners, has over 30 years of broad-based experience in senior-level recruiting in the investment and wealth management fields. Prior to founding David Barrett Partners in 2005, he was the Partner-in-Charge of the Global Asset and Wealth Management Practice at Heidrick & Struggles. He started his search career with Russell Reynolds Associates in Los Angeles, Singapore and New York.

David was recognized on the cover of the June 2015 issue of Chief Investment Officer Magazine as the leading CIO recruiter in the endowment, foundation, plan sponsor, wealth and family office areas. In 2019, Institutional Investor recognized him in a feature article as the leading recruiter in the asset owner space. Additionally, he co-authored the section on “Careers in Investment Management” for The Career Navigation Handbook: America's top executive recruiters on choosing and changing your career path published by John Wiley & Sons.

David began his career in equity research with Brown Brothers Harriman in New York. Following graduate school, David returned to investment management as an Equity Analyst with Trust Company of the West in Los Angeles before moving into executive search.

David received a BA from Yale University and obtained his MBA from Columbia University.