CASE STUDY THREE

Six Marketing Leaders across Six Portfolio Investment Firms

Case Study: How a Retainer-Based, Marketing-Specialized Search Partner Delivered Six High-Impact Leaders for Summit Partners

David Honig, a deeply experienced Executive Recruiter specializing in senior-level marketing and revenue leadership roles, has built his career on one core foundation: delivering exceptional talent through true partnership. His long-standing relationship with Summit Partners, a global private equity firm known for scaling high-growth portfolio companies, exemplifies the power of a marketing-specific, retainer-based search approach.

Summit Partners has hired David not once—but six separate times—to lead critical senior-level marketing and revenue leadership searches across their portfolio. Their continued trust is a direct reflection of David’s precision, specialization, and consistent ability to deliver transformative leaders.

The Challenge: A Critical Search for a Senior Digital Performance Leader

In one of their most pivotal engagements, Summit Partners sought a senior-level Digital Performance Leader—a role essential to:

  • Elevating performance marketing across multiple portfolio companies
  • Driving measurable digital and revenue impact
  • Supporting CEOs and GTM teams across diverse business models
  •  
  • Maintaining Summit’s high standards for operational excellence

This was a high-stakes, portfolio-wide role requiring far more than standard digital expertise. They needed someone who could operate as a strategic multiplier across companies, sectors, and growth challenges.

 

Only a specialized search partner—with deep knowledge of performance marketing and the PE portfolio environment—could successfully fill the role.

Why Summit Partners Returned to a Retainer-Based, Marketing-Specific Partner

Summit’s Managing Directors turned once again to David Honig, confident in his:

  • Proven success with prior senior marketing placements
  • Ability to decode complex business needs across industries
  • Precision in identifying revenue-driving marketing leaders
  • Extensive network of top-tier performance, demand gen, and growth talent

This wasn’t a vendor relationship—it was a trusted advisory partnership built through repeated success and deep understanding of Summit’s investment strategy and leadership expectations.

The Search: Meticulous, Targeted, and Built for High-Stakes Hiring

David approached this search with the level of depth and rigor that only a marketing-specialized recruiter can bring:

  • Conducted a full alignment with the Managing Director on strategic objectives
  • Leveraged his elite network of senior performance marketing leaders
  • Evaluated candidates on technical expertise, adaptability, and executive presence
  • Assessed leadership fit for a complex, multi-company environment
  •  
  • Prioritized candidates with proven revenue impact and cross-functional influence

The search required a leader who could seamlessly support multiple portfolio companies—each with unique challenges, roadmaps, and levels of digital maturity.

David’s specialization made the difference. He knew the precise profile and had the ability to reach the talent other firms simply could not.

The Outcome: A High-Impact Leader Who Drove Immediate Portfolio Results

David ultimately identified a standout candidate who possessed:

  • Deep performance marketing and analytics expertise
  • Proven experience accelerating digital and revenue growth
  • The leadership acumen to work with multiple CEOs
  • The agility and influence needed to elevate strategy across a portfolio
  •  

The results were immediate:

  • Seamless integration into Summit Partners
  • Accelerated performance marketing maturity across portfolio companies
  • Faster revenue impact and stronger digital outcomes
  • A rapid, well-earned promotion within the Summit team

The success of this placement—and the measurable portfolio-wide impact further solidified David as Summit’s go-to partner for marketing, growth, and revenue leadership searches.

Why Hiring Managers Choose David Honig for Retainer-Based Marketing Executive Search

Hiring Managers at fast-growing companies and PE-backed organizations trust David because he delivers:

  • Specialization in senior marketing, demand generation, performance, and revenue roles
  • A retainer-based model designed for precision and partnership
  • Access to top-tier marketing talent not visible to generalist firms
  • A repeatable process that consistently delivers high-impact leaders
  • A true advisory partnership—not a transactional recruiting relationship

With six successful searches completed for Summit Partners alone, David’s track record speaks for itself:
When you need a marketing leader who will drive growth, revenue, and long-term value—David Honig is the partner you want in your corner.

CASE STUDY THREE

Six Marketing Leaders across Six Portfolio Investment Firms

Case Study: How a Retainer-Based, Marketing-Specialized Search Partner Delivered Six High-Impact Leaders for Summit Partners

David Honig, a deeply experienced Executive Recruiter specializing in senior-level marketing and revenue leadership roles, has built his career on one core foundation: delivering exceptional talent through true partnership. His long-standing relationship with Summit Partners, a global private equity firm known for scaling high-growth portfolio companies, exemplifies the power of a marketing-specific, retainer-based search approach.

Summit Partners has hired David not once—but six separate times—to lead critical senior-level marketing and revenue leadership searches across their portfolio. Their continued trust is a direct reflection of David’s precision, specialization, and consistent ability to deliver transformative leaders.

The Challenge: A Critical Search for a Senior Digital Performance Leader

In one of their most pivotal engagements, Summit Partners sought a senior-level Digital Performance Leader—a role essential to:

  • Elevating performance marketing across multiple portfolio companies
  • Driving measurable digital and revenue impact
  • Supporting CEOs and GTM teams across diverse business models
  •  
  • Maintaining Summit’s high standards for operational excellence

This was a high-stakes, portfolio-wide role requiring far more than standard digital expertise. They needed someone who could operate as a strategic multiplier across companies, sectors, and growth challenges.

 

Only a specialized search partner—with deep knowledge of performance marketing and the PE portfolio environment—could successfully fill the role.

Why Summit Partners Returned to a Retainer-Based, Marketing-Specific Partner

Summit’s Managing Directors turned once again to David Honig, confident in his:

  • Proven success with prior senior marketing placements
  • Ability to decode complex business needs across industries
  • Precision in identifying revenue-driving marketing leaders
  • Extensive network of top-tier performance, demand gen, and growth talent

This wasn’t a vendor relationship—it was a trusted advisory partnership built through repeated success and deep understanding of Summit’s investment strategy and leadership expectations.

The Search: Meticulous, Targeted, and Built for High-Stakes Hiring

David approached this search with the level of depth and rigor that only a marketing-specialized recruiter can bring:

  • Conducted a full alignment with the Managing Director on strategic objectives
  • Leveraged his elite network of senior performance marketing leaders
  • Evaluated candidates on technical expertise, adaptability, and executive presence
  • Assessed leadership fit for a complex, multi-company environment
  • Prioritized candidates with proven revenue impact and cross-functional influence

The search required a leader who could seamlessly support multiple portfolio companies—each with unique challenges, roadmaps, and levels of digital maturity.

David’s specialization made the difference. He knew the precise profile and had the ability to reach the talent other firms simply could not.

The Outcome: A High-Impact Leader Who Drove Immediate Portfolio Results

David ultimately identified a standout candidate who possessed:

  • Deep performance marketing and analytics expertise
  • Proven experience accelerating digital and revenue growth
  • The leadership acumen to work with multiple CEOs
  • The agility and influence needed to elevate strategy across a portfolio
  •  

The results were immediate:

  • Seamless integration into Summit Partners
  • Accelerated performance marketing maturity across portfolio companies
  • Faster revenue impact and stronger digital outcomes
  • A rapid, well-earned promotion within the Summit team

The success of this placement—and the measurable portfolio-wide impact further solidified David as Summit’s go-to partner for marketing, growth, and revenue leadership searches.

Why Hiring Managers Choose David Honig for Retainer-Based Marketing Executive Search

Hiring Managers at fast-growing companies and PE-backed organizations trust David because he delivers:

  • Specialization in senior marketing, demand generation, performance, and revenue roles
  • A retainer-based model designed for precision and partnership
  • Access to top-tier marketing talent not visible to generalist firms
  • A repeatable process that consistently delivers high-impact leaders
  • A true advisory partnership—not a transactional recruiting relationship

With six successful searches completed for Summit Partners alone, David’s track record speaks for itself:
When you need a marketing leader who will drive growth, revenue, and long-term value—David Honig is the partner you want in your corner.