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’. Borys Storck leads ‘team Düsseldorf’, which also covers a wide area around Hessen and Frankfurt. What did you do before joining Marktlink, and what made you decide to make the move? "I was already a director at another corporate house, but Marktlink offered the chance to become an entrepreneur, taking responsibility for myself and developing a team and the entire organisation in Germany. I was impressed by Marktlink’s growth history and knew I would get the support I needed." 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 exactly the kind of entrepreneurial company I was looking for. Getting deals completed and done well really matters to everyone here. I have great supportive colleagues and we’re given the space to make our own decision – and occasionally mistakes."
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? "I can teach them about M&A, but the motivation always comes from within. A good consultant will always bring some kind of boost to the transaction." 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? "Grow, grow, grow! I’m ambitious for Marktlink as a company, but I also see it as the ideal channel for my personal career growth."
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.
"It’s the result that matters. It’s OK to make mistakes along the way as long as you learn from them. At Marktlink we are willing to help each other to become better dealmakers."
Why would you most recommend working at Marktlink as a managing partner? "It’s a chance to become part of the Europe’s fastest-growing M&A house."
If become a Managing Partner sounds like a journey you’d like to take, please get in touch with Petra Wijnholds.
