---
title: "Mark Whaling, Co-Founder | Black Powder Search"
description: "Co-founder of Black Powder Search and Chairman of the Special Operators Transition Foundation, after 25 years in institutional securities."
url: https://blackpowdersearch.com/team/mark-whaling
---

[About](https://blackpowdersearch.com/about) / Mark Whaling ![Mark Whaling, Co-Founder, Business Development](#)

# Mark Whaling

Co-Founder, Business Development

Mark is the Co-Founder of Black Powder Search, and leverages 25 years of executive experience across investment banking, institutional sales, finance and management to drive outcomes for the firm's clients, partners and veteran community.

Prior to forming Black Powder Search, Mark was Global Head of Securities at Canaccord Genuity, a position he held from April 2019, with oversight of all global sales, trading, research and specialty desks. Previously he was Global Head of Sales and Trading, and from 2012 to 2015 Head of Global Equity Sales and Trading. Mark joined Collins Stewart in 2008 as Head of US Equity Research and Sales, was promoted to Head of Equities in 2010, and in March 2011 to President of Collins Stewart LLC and Head of US Securities. Before that he spent five years as a Managing Director of Institutional Equity Sales and Director of Product Development at FTN Financial, and earlier held Vice President roles in the institutional sales departments of Bank of America Securities and ABN AMRO.

Mark holds a BA in history from Princeton University, where he remains involved with the Football and Lacrosse alumni organizations and mentors student athletes. He is Chairman of the Special Operators Transition Foundation, which helps Special Operations veterans move into private sector employment, sits on the advisory board of Youth Inc, and is on the board of the Westchester Chapter of the NFF Golden Dozen. He is also active with Steer for Student Athletes.

Areas

- Executive search
- Institutional securities
- Veteran transition

[Start a search](https://blackpowdersearch.com/for-employers#start)

The rest of the team

- [Robert Kirila — Co-Founder](https://blackpowdersearch.com/team/robert-kirila)
- [Erik Wisecup — Partner](https://blackpowdersearch.com/team/erik-wisecup)
- [Tal Bruno — Business Development](https://blackpowdersearch.com/team/tal-bruno)
- [Sean Locke — Senior Advisor](https://blackpowdersearch.com/team/sean-locke)
- [Colin Brune — Special Advisor](https://blackpowdersearch.com/team/colin-brune)
- [Denise Kermode — Chief Administrative Officer](https://blackpowdersearch.com/team/denise-kermode)

Next step

## Tell us the role. We will tell you who is already ready for it.

An onboarding call with our COO and the lead recruiter, and you will know
within the week whether the person you need is already in our pool.

[Start a search](https://blackpowdersearch.com/for-employers#start) [Join the talent pool](https://blackpowdersearch.com/for-candidates#join)