You've been with Fidelio for more than a decade, how did your journey start?

The journey began with a Sunday evening phone call from Fidelio’s founder and CEO, Gabriel Fitzgerald. We briefly crossed paths at a firm where we had both worked, and he reached out to discuss an opportunity at Fidelio. Intrigued by the idea of being part of building something new, I agreed to meet for breakfast. We had a great conversation about business and company-building. Eventually he asked if I was interested in joining Fidelio.

At first, I was hesitant because I was happy in my current role, but the idea lingered. My wife noticed how much I was thinking about it and encouraged me to reconsider. After a few weeks, I called Gabriel back. It was a pivotal moment, and it turned out to be the right decision.

So after having decided to make that change, what was it like joining Fidelio and working closely with Gabriel?

The most important aspect was establishing mutual trust and a shared vision. Gabriel and I needed to ensure we were aligned on our goals, business approach, and firm culture. We also had to get to know each other personally, as trust is crucial for making it work. We found that we complemented each other well, quickly turning our collaboration into a great partnership. At Fidelio, we take our work seriously but also manage to have fun along the way.

And now, more than a decade later, how would you describe your role at the firm and what has surprised you most along the way?

As a Partner at Fidelio, my role is to ensure that everyone else becomes stars, whether it's our team or our portfolio companies. Formally, I'm involved in finding investments and I am part of the leadership team responsible for building the firm. I contribute to strategic decisions and company infrastructure.

Looking back, the growth and performance we've achieved have exceeded my expectations. While each small decision alone may not have been decisive, the cumulative effect has led to significant success. Our approach—combining investment flexibility with a strong culture and a focus on building companies—has proven more powerful than I initially imagined.

You often talk about Fidelio being different from other investment firms. How would you describe that difference, in your own words?

We have a unique investment profile, with very few restrictions in terms of industry, geographies and investment horizon. We also set up our incentive models to be aligned with the management in the companies we invest in and strive to be a true partner.

But I would also like to highlight our internal culture. Many firms claim to have unique values, but living by those values is what I believe sets us apart. We're committed to making smart investment decisions, attracting talented people, and enabling them to succeed. This is reflected in every micro-decision we make. We have a strong, consistent culture and value collaboration over individual success. Our ability to support and develop both our firm and portfolio companies has been instrumental in our achievements.

Can you give an example of Fidelio's culture in action?

Our culture shines most in challenging times. When under pressure, our team comes together to support each other rather than fracturing. For instance, during stressful situations, colleagues will offer to double-check each other’s work and help out where needed. This collaborative spirit is a significant strength and differentiates us from others.

I sense that you truly enjoy your work, what’s your favourite time of the week?

I actually enjoy Monday mornings! It's the start of a new week, and I look forward to tackling fresh challenges and opportunities.

When speaking to Gabriel earlier, he talked about your approach to finding new potential investments by floating ideas and brainstorming together as a team. Have there been any particularly wild ideas you've brainstormed?

We brainstorm crazy ideas all the time, which helps us prepare for when real opportunities arise. While not all ideas work out, this creative process is crucial. We understand that success in investing means being right about 60% of the time. Planning for uncertainty and helping our portfolio companies manage change is a big part of our strategy.

Looking ahead, what do you see for Fidelio's future?

We aim to remain distinct in our approach, not just for the sake of being different, but because we believe in our method. There’s still a lot of potential for growth, both geographically and in our ability to transform entrepreneurial, niche companies into global or European leaders. We now have an office in London and see great potential in markets like the US, where our partnership approach fits well. While the future is unpredictable, our goal is to continue evolving and attracting top talent to achieve great things together.