International M&A specialist appoints top dealmaker to lead UK expansion

Marktlink, the international mergers and acquisitions (M&A) specialist advisory firm, is continuing to strengthen its UK presence with the opening of a central London office. The move establishes the firm’s fourth UK office having built strong roots within the SME communities in Manchester, Birmingham, and Nottingham.

As the 17th office in Marktlink’s growing international network, the central St Paul’s base highlights the firm’s dedication to providing boutique-style M&A advisory to entrepreneurs and reinforces its position as a dominant player in the European M&A market.

Heading up the London operations as managing partner is Victoria Ansell, an award-winning corporate finance advisor with a long-established professional network in central London and the South East.

Having spent 10 years as a corporate commercial lawyer, Victoria transitioned her career to corporate finance in 2016. She joined Castle Corporate Finance as lead advisor and then became a director and shareholder in 2019, before going on to win Insider South East Dealmakers Corporate Finance Adviser of the Year 2021 & Dealmaker of the Year in 2022.

Discussing her new role, Victoria said: “To large European buyers, London has long been established as a focal point for expansion strategies in the UK. Our presence here enables us to better serve UK-based entrepreneurs across the country by bringing them to the forefront of interested buyers who often begin their search in London.

“Often perceived as the home of very large advisory teams, we’re bringing a unique approach to the London market – one that combines deep local expertise with an extensive European network, all while keeping the entrepreneur’s interests at the heart of every transaction.”

“We’re actively hiring junior and senior profiles to develop and support our pipeline. Our plan is to build a team of approximately 30 people renowned for excellence, and deal delivery while maintaining our collaborative culture that allows for cross-border opportunities. Alongside Jonny Parkinson, Joe Moran and their teams in the North West and Midlands, this expansion will significantly enhance our ability to connect UK-wide businesses with European buyers and vice versa.”

As a keen advocate for women in corporate finance, Victoria will continue to be an active member of March Women in M&A, a networking group focused on supporting and collaborating with women in the M&A sector. She is also a frequent speaker at panel events within the professional services network – most recently joining Hays Macintyre’s Future Gen Female Event Series.

Luc Keltjens, partner at Marktlink, commented: “We expect to close approximately 150 transactions this year, and our existing UK offices are thriving. Opening in London is an exciting next step in our mission to become the market leader in Europe for advising business owners in M&A.

“Victoria is no stranger to the London market. She has an impressive history of building a vast professional network in the capital that led to her personally raising the profile of her previous firm in this space. Combined with her empathetic and entrepreneurial nature, Victoria was the clear choice to lead our London operations.”

“Independent research consistently shows that 70% of European entrepreneurs plan to sell their businesses within the next 10 years. When the time comes for them to make that decision, getting it right is crucial. Marktlink’s pan-European operations, with locally present deal teams, ensure that our advisers gain and learn from the knowledge and experiences of their international colleagues.

“We are confident that with Victoria, we will assemble the most exceptional M&A deal team for entrepreneurs in London – but its impact will extend far beyond ‘The City’. The opening of the London office adds even greater weight to Marktlink’s UK-wide offering meaning that business owners – no matter where they are – can access a unique network that spans the breadth of the nation and across into Europe. Coupled with our data-driven approach, numerous deals in various sectors and our extensive network of buyers and sellers across Europe, we’ll continue to ensure that business owners achieve the best possible M&A deal.”

Marktlink’s international network of 50 deal teams across six countries positions the firm uniquely to source the best deals and optimise outcomes for entrepreneurs active in M&A. The group’s focus on building long-term relationships with entrepreneurs, combined with its use of cutting-edge technologies, allows for a thorough understanding of market dynamics and finding the best possible buyers.