Cardea Group was founded in 2009, in the middle of one of the most disruptive periods in modern financial history, on a simple belief: that legal and compliance hiring for alternative asset managers deserved more rigor than it was getting. At the time, most searches for these roles were run by generalist recruiters treating compliance like any other seat to fill. We thought the firm’s most exposed function deserved a recruiter who actually understood it.
So we built Cardea around a single focus and never drifted from it. We only work on legal and compliance hiring for hedge funds, private equity, private credit, venture capital, and family offices. That’s it. No generalist desk, no adjacent practice areas pulling attention away from the work you actually need done.
That focus is why, when you bring us a search, you’re not paying for our learning curve. We already know how compliance functions are structured at firms like yours, where candidates are looking, and what a management committee needs to see to trust a new hire in a pressure moment.
The cost of a mis-hire in a legal or compliance leadership role extends well beyond replacing the individual. That’s why we’ve built a specialized search process, deep market relationships, and the expertise to help clients hire with confidence.
Meet the Team
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Andrea Colabella
Executive Recruiter & Partner
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Mary Huminski
Executive Recruiter
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Joanna Ballet
Executive Recruiter
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Isabelle Karl
Head of Research
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Jessica Leffew
Retained Search Coordinator
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Mia Mendez
Research Analyst
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Zora Bissell
Executive Search Analyst
Our Values
Honest Communication & Collaboration
We’ll tell you what we’re seeing in the market, even when it’s different from your expectations. That includes talent availability, compensation, timelines, and search strategy, so every decision is based on what the market supports.
Diversity & Inclusion
Every search begins with the same commitment: understand the full market before making recommendations. That approach consistently surfaces candidates with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives who might otherwise be overlooked.
Innovation
Search has evolved. The firms that rely on databases and job postings are competing for the same people everyone else already knows. We combine technology, research, and longstanding relationships to uncover top talent.
Building Relationships
We measure success by the relationships we build over time. Many of our clients return to us because we’ve invested the time to understand their business, hiring philosophy, and long-term goals.
Giving Back
Beyond our work in executive search and recruitment, our team shares a deep commitment to giving back. Through charitable initiatives, fundraising efforts, board involvement, and volunteer work, Cardea Group believes in strengthening our communities and contributing meaningfully beyond the workplace.
Cardea Cares
Since inception, Cardea Group has avidly supported organizations and charities dear to our hearts. We have countless stories of our volunteering and fundraising efforts with these non-for-profits and would love to share our adoration for them with you:
