Warburg Pincus has appointed Steve Varley as Senior Advisor, the firm announced on September 17, 2025. Varley will support the Industrials and Business Services group, focusing on professional services opportunities and companies operating at the intersection of services and technology. He is also expected to contribute across Warburg Pincus’s global platform in value creation and deal origination.
Varley brings more than thirty years of experience in professional services. He currently serves as Chairman of Unity Advisory, a CFO advisory firm that is part of the Warburg Pincus portfolio. Previously, he was Global Vice Chair for Sustainability at EY, where he advised large companies on sustainability initiatives related to long-term value creation. His earlier roles at EY included Chairman and Managing Partner for UK & Ireland, leading over 20,000 professionals, as well as senior leadership positions in consulting across Northern Europe, the Middle East, India, and Africa.
“I have long admired Warburg Pincus’s thesis-led approach, global and growth-oriented mindset, and long-term investment philosophy,” said Steve Varley. “Having worked with the team first-hand through my role in Unity Advisory, I’m excited to continue working with Warburg Pincus to identify and grow exceptional businesses in the services space, particularly as technology and innovation continue to reshape the industry.”
David Reis, Managing Director for Industrials and Business Services at Warburg Pincus added: “Steve’s deep sector expertise, global leadership experience, and strong relationships across the services ecosystem make him an invaluable addition to Warburg Pincus. He has been a trusted advisor to CEOs, Boards and government, and his insights will help shape our investment theses and deepen our reach in high-growth segments of the services ecosystem.”
In addition to his current role at Unity Advisory, Varley chairs boards including DWF Group and Liverpool Football Club Foundation. Over his career he has held advisory roles with two Prime Ministers as well as serving as a Special Advisor to the United Nations.