CHRISTOPHER MASEK AND DETLEF DINSEL: - IK Investment ...

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all our partners both internal and external. Björn founded
IK and was very involved in the firm strategically and
financially. But because we started thinking about the
succession so early, the handover was done very responsibly
and in incremental stages. Of course, successions are never
easy but we used our collective experience to try and make
this one as effective as we could. The firm is now on a secure
footing for the future and that is particularly important when
external conditions are so unstable.”
detlef: “We also made sure that, as the succession process
evolved, we maintained a regular dialogue with all the
relevant parties – not just Björn and ourselves but the other
partners in the firm and, of course, our investors. This
made a big difference. Overall therefore, we would say the
succession ran smoothly because we had time on our side, we
planned it carefully and we put it into effect incrementally.
Times are very different now from the first two decades of
IK’s existence but we still believe in the model that Björn
developed and the added value it creates for our portfolio
companies and our investors.”
Q: Why did you choose to have two co-regional heads
rather than one
chris: “We chose to have two co-heads because that way
we can both manage the firm and remain really involved in
investment-related activities. We felt this was very important
for IK and our investors. As joint co-heads, we can fulfil our
leadership responsibilities but also continue to do what IK
is all about – investing in new businesses, developing our
portfolio companies and realising exits. This is a crucial part
of our role as managing partners because we are involved
in the very heart of the business. Then, because there
are a number of management issues in a firm of our size,
we allocated responsibilities according to our respective
skill-sets. I’m the sociable one so I head the executive
committee which covers HR, IR, CSR, communications,
finance, administration and compliance. Detlef is extremely
analytical so he chairs the investment committee, managing
new and existing investments.”
detlef: “But we also overlap because we each sit on each
other’s committees so it is very fair, very equal and very
effective. And it works particularly well because we are both
focused on our strategy and that has not changed since we
took over the running of the firm. If anything, the succession
process has confirmed and clarified our strategic direction.
We know exactly what we want to do, where we want to
do it and how we want to deliver to our investors. We are a
“As joint
co-heads,
we can fulfil
our leadership
responsibilities
but also
continue to
do what IK
is all about
- investing
in new
businesses,
developing
our portfolio
companies
and realising
exits. This is
a crucial part
of our role
as managing
partners
because we are
involved in the
very heart of
the business.”
Christopher Masek,
Managing Partner, IK
European mid-market firm with Nordic roots; we believe
in active ownership and we focus on producing very good
returns on a consistent basis.”
Q: You both have quite different skill-sets. Does this
work to IK’s advantage
detlef: “To many people we come across as very
different but there are points of similarity between us.
We are both very driven, we are both intensely
competitive and we both want to win. In fact, we both
run a lot and compare our times! As a Frenchman and
a German, we communicate in different ways and
we can have different views on investments but this
provides valuable grounds for debate and discussion.
Our respective strengths also sit well with our positions
within the firm – as chairmen of the executive committee
and investment committee.”
chris: “In some respects, we are a bit of an odd couple
but our relationship works almost because of our
differences. We like to think that we complement each
other and this works for the firm and our investors.
Ultimately, we both want the same thing: to develop and
grow IK and to continue to deliver outstanding returns.
To that end, we are determined to lead IK into the future
with a shared vision, a joint strategy and a united desire to
grow the business.”
Q: If you had to sum up IK in three words, what would
they be
detlef: “Focus, driven and entrepreneurial.”
chris: “Entrepreneurial, successful and consistent.”
Christopher Masek
Latest movie:
The Ides of March (George
Clooney's political drama)
Last read book:
IQ84 by Haruki Murakami
Favourite sport to play:
Squash
Favourite sport to watch:
NFL
Favourite food:
Italian
Favourite vacation
destination:
Corsica
My dream deal:
A low priced Gillette!