PHILADELPHIA, PA – May 27, 2026 – True, the premier global executive talent platform powered by data, AI, and deep sector expertise, today announced the appointments of two senior partners to its London office: Severine Balick as Partner in the Energy Transition & Industrial and Private Equity Practices, and Richard Collins as Partner in the Financial Services Practice.
The additions mark a significant expansion of True’s European footprint at a pivotal moment. Private capital is under mounting pressure to professionalize at scale, while energy transition and digital infrastructure are converging into a single investment thesis, and the leaders who can operate across both are in short supply. London sits at the center of this shift, and True is building the team to serve it. Both appointments reflect the firm’s conviction that leadership quality – particularly at the intersection of technology and physical assets – is increasingly the differentiating factor in value creation.
Severine Balick
“Severine combines investing experience with a strong track record in executive search, particularly across technology, decarbonization and infrastructure,” said Sam McGrath, Global GM, True Search. “She has worked closely with private equity and venture investors to place leaders across energy transition, digital infrastructure, and adjacent sectors, bringing a practical understanding of how leadership needs evolve as these markets scale and mature.”
Severine brings more than 20 years of leadership experience partnering with U.S. and European private equity and venture capital investors on CEO, Chair, Board, and Operating Partner appointments. Her work spans the full leadership lifecycle, from founding teams to portfolio company transformation, giving her a rare perspective on what great leadership looks like at every stage of growth. She also advises on transactions and builds leadership teams for businesses across technology, energy transition, AI-enabled platforms, digital infrastructure, and industrial deeptech.
Prior to joining True, she led the global sustainability tech and private equity practice at Calibre One, working across infrastructure and growth investments in technology, decarbonization, industrial, and healthcare. Earlier in her career, she was a Partner at Middleland Capital and founded Matador Ventures, giving her direct experience in capital raising, operational scaling and value creation playbooks for growth-stage tech businesses.
“AI and energy transition are no longer parallel themes — they are converging into a single value creation agenda across software, infrastructure, and industrial platforms,” said Severine Balick. “Private equity and infrastructure investors are increasingly competing for the same assets with similar value creation playbooks. That requires leaders who can operate across technology and physical assets, scale platforms globally, and execute transformation at pace. True’s integrated and collaborative model creates a unique platform to help my clients build those leadership teams.”
Richard Collins
“Richard has spent his career advising private capital clients on how to build and evolve their leadership teams,” said Sam McGrath. “His experience spans work across the fundraising and investor relations function, investment, and senior finance and operations roles, making him a strong partner for firms navigating growth, fund formation, and increasing operational complexity.”
Richard brings more than 25 years of experience in executive search and talent advisory, specializing in investment management and the broader private capital ecosystem. Over that period, he has built an extensive network across alternative asset managers, sovereign wealth funds, and institutional allocators. Relationships that give his clients access to a calibre of leadership that is rarely visible on the open market. He works with asset managers, private equity firms, and alternative investment platforms on senior hiring across investment, finance, operations, and investor relations. Prior to joining True, Richard founded and led Stevenson James, a boutique executive search firm focused on private capital, where he advised clients across EMEA on senior hiring and talent strategy. Under his leadership, Stevenson James established itself as a trusted partner to some of the most respected names in European private equity.
“In today’s fiercely competitive landscape, successful scaling is determined not just by investment strategy, but by the strategic leadership of capital formation, investor relations, finance, and operations.” said Richard Collins. “I joined True because it provides an unrivaled, technology-driven platform that is essential for identifying the leaders required to navigate this environment. True’s unique combination of leading technology, assessment and advisory capabilities, proprietary data, and deep global expertise across all sectors and asset classes ensures a truly best-in-class outcome. One that helps clients unlock maximum value and build the leadership teams that scale.”
ABOUT TRUE
True is the premier global talent management platform clients turn to for their most pressing talent needs. True is powered by the industry’s most comprehensive and actionable talent intelligence, AI, and expert insight to strengthen every aspect of clients’ leadership strategy and drive lasting impact. Products and services include True Search for executive recruiting with TrueBridge for fractional and interim placements; and True Talent Labs to strengthen leadership teams through coaching and assessment. Thrive, a modern Talent CRM, streamlines talent management, while SearchEssentials brings tech-enabled precision to hiring.
Jillian Ruggieri / Senior Director Communications
jillian.ruggieri@trueplatform.com