Mike Reynolds

How has your experiences before joining MML, helped you today?

I started life as an operational turnaround investor – working closely with management teams to deliver change in their businesses. More recently I was a growth investor, focused on tech and service providers – we grew our firm from a UK & Irish focused lower mid-market investor to a pan-European mid-market investor experiencing hyper growth along the way. I have had the pleasure of investing in some great businesses and working alongside some very smart people so I hope I have learnt a lot which can be beneficial to the companies that MML partners with.

What do you find most rewarding about your role at MML?

I have a blank canvas! There is huge flexibility at MML in how we can support a business so it’s great being able to collaborate with a management team and arrive at a solution that works for them in enabling their business to flourish!

What type of companies are you excited about?

I love business generally and admire the vision, drive and effectiveness of successful entrepreneurs. I love learning about the businesses they have built and their vision for the future. I have a track record of investing in software and service providers so I will always have a soft spot for these areas as I can lean on my experience and support teams more effectively.

What do you look for in potential investment management teams?

Alignment is key. I want to be a partner to a management team, working together for a shared purpose and vision. Curiosity on both sides is essential to enable us to collaborate in the most effective way. We will all make mistakes and no investment cycle goes completely smoothly however, with high trust and integrity, we can find solutions to achieve great outcomes for everyone.

What does life look like when you leave the office?

I’m father to four young boys so most of my time outside the office is spent with them – mostly as a taxi driver these days! I love sport and fitness however, so I try to exercise most days, either running, swimming, cycling or weight lifting. As a family we love to travel so try to head off on adventures when we can to check out different cultures, cuisines and nature!

Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us!

I only learnt to swim when I was 40 and it’s something that matters a lot to me now so I try to keep improving and getting better – can’t let my kids pass me out yet!