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’.

Filip Mariën is in charge of the Antwerp office, our first office outside the Netherlands.

What did you do before joining Marktlink, and what made you decide to make the move? "I was working at a “Big Four” company. My main reason to switch to Marktlink was the opportunity to further expand our presence in my own home country."

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? "Entrepreneurial, authentic, and dynamic. Marktlink is independent and self-contained, bureaucracy is kept to a minimum, and there’s a lot of personal space for entrepreneurship."

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 love being part of a really diverse team: men and women of all ages and different academic backgrounds. We each have our own individual skills, so we complement each other."

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? "We’re very keen to expand the business in Belgium from our office in Antwerp. That’s why we are looking for suitable managing partners. And as a team we’d like to get to 20 to 25 consultants so we can create more deal teams and get more deals done."

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.

Anything else you’d like to add? "Working at Marktlink is a great vibe with plenty of shared activities where you meet colleagues from other offices and countries. The annual ski holiday and gala parties for example. Our team also spends social time with team Belgium: having drinks together, play bowling, or going out for dinner. Marktlink is a big company that feels like a family." Why would you most recommend working at Marktlink as a managing partner? The international journey of Marktlink is really just beginning, so now is the perfect time to step up and become part of a fascinating European adventure. 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.