Being a Managing Partner at Marktlink isn’t quite like any other job in the financial sector. It’s an enormous privilege to guide owners and investors through the Mergers and Acquisitions transaction process and create deals that take a business forward and generate exceptional growth. It’s also a lot of fun. We spoke to four Managing Partners in our new offices across Europe – about their careers, ambitions, values, and what it’s really like to work for Marktlink at the ‘coal face’.
Jonathon Parkinson leads our brand-new team in Manchester UK, where we’ve taken on two young talented consultants just a few months after opening our doors.
What did you do before joining Marktlink, and what made you decide to make the move? "Before Marktlink, I worked at Benchmark International for more than 10 years as a lead M&A adviser in the SME space, and most recently as a Director running two deal teams. With Marktlink I literally have the chance to put my own mark on something, with the support and infrastructure of a leading European player in the M&A market. Marktlink’s key values really resonate with me, especially the culture of supporting entrepreneurship internally just as much as we support entrepreneurs externally." A perfect match You need an entrepreneurial mindset to work at Marktlink, with a clear vision, a nose for trends and upcoming markets, and a strong focus on achieving the best results. We see opportunities where others see challenges. How do the Managing Partners relate to this? What other values do they recognise both in themselves and in Marktlink? How would you describe Marktlink as a company and how does that fit with your own core values and ambitions? "Marktlink is built on a culture of entrepreneurship, which includes supporting and empowering everyone’s personal progress within the company and the M&A world. We’re encouraged to form strong, genuine relationships with clients – to be personable and approachable. We’re formal advisers, but we’re also seen as confidants, guiding them through the M&A process with our experience."
Building the team Being a Managing Partner means building up an office as well as a team, with a lot of managing and operational responsibilities on top of that. You’re expected to take the lead in the professional development of young consultants and teach them the tricks of the trade. The young consultants also contribute to the development of the team as a whole. How do our four Managing Partners deal with the all the different dynamics and personalities and create a single team? What’s it like managing a team of young consultants, and what do you learn from them? "It’s important that everyone has a chance to contribute to decisions. We have built a really strong team of individuals with varied financial and commercial backgrounds, and that gives us the benefit of different perspectives. Leadership is key as the consultants rely on us to indicate a clear career pathway." Aligning personal and professional ambitions All our new offices outside the Netherlands are start-ups. But that doesn’t mean we can soft pedal -– business needs to get done every day. Our local presence in several European countries is what makes Marktlink unique. Which personal skills contribute to achieve our ambition to become the number one M&A office in Europe? What are the similarities between personal character and company culture that make our ideal Managing Partner so determined to support Marktlink’s growth ambitions? What are your future goals – both personal and with Marktlink? "The goal is to replicate the success of the Dutch operation and build up Marktlink to be the market-leading M&A adviser in the UK. We’re focused on establishing our reputation regionally to start with, then expanding across the country via a network of local offices. My personal goals are fully aligned with that. I also want to develop my own leadership skills and supporting my team in furthering their careers." A way of life 'Work hard, play hard' is one of our core values. But how does that relate to the day-to-day job of our Managing Partners? We are well known for our personal approach to the entrepreneur, but how does this relate to the daily job and teamwork? We always take time to celebrate our successes and to spend informal time together after work.
"The Marktlink company culture is exceptional, with highlights like ski trips, galas, and F1. Colleagues quickly become friends when you attend these events regularly." Why would you most recommend working at Marktlink as a managing partner? "It’s an opportunity to create something worthwhile and see it through to maturity. Marktlink gives you the autonomy to build your own individual business, but with central support and a blueprint for success. There’s genuine collaboration across all our offices."
Your journey starts here ...
If become a Managing Partner sounds like a journey you’d like to take, please get in touch with Petra Wijnholds.
