Simon Heaton

Simon Heaton is Stout’s Chief Growth Officer and a member of the firm’s executive leadership team. He works across the organization to drive Stout’s growth through strategy, acquisitions, senior talent, leadership development, and investment in new capabilities.

Since joining Stout, Simon has played a central role in the firm’s growth and transformation. He leads Stout’s corporate development activities and has helped add 14 firms to the Stout platform through acquisition, working across opportunity identification, strategic evaluation, transaction execution, integration, and the continued growth of acquired businesses.

Simon has also been closely involved in two significant private equity transactions involving Stout: Audax Private Equity’s investment in the firm in 2021 and Stout’s subsequent partnership with Integrum Holdings in 2025. Through these experiences, he has developed a deep understanding of building and scaling a professional services business within a private equity-backed environment.

In addition to corporate development, Simon leads Stout’s senior talent strategy, helping attract entrepreneurial leaders, teams, and new capabilities to the firm. He is actively involved in leadership development and succession, with a particular focus on building the people and organizational capabilities required to support Stout’s continued growth.

A central theme throughout Simon’s work has been scaling Stout while preserving the entrepreneurial, relationship-driven culture that has contributed to the firm’s success.

Prior to joining Stout, Simon held senior talent and leadership roles with global organizations, including Barclays and Walmart, and he spent part of his career in executive search. His international experience includes working across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Hong Kong.

Simon earned an M.B.A. from Ivey Business School at Western University. He has spent his career at the intersection of people, strategy, and growth, with a particular interest in building leadership teams and organizations capable of sustaining growth through periods of significant change.