Ian Wallis

What is the most exciting part of your job?

I think it is twofold. Firstly, winning the deal – persuading management and founders that MML is the right partner. It always gets the adrenalin going. Secondly, is delivering the plan and seeing that realised through a successful exit. It is a lot of hard work by all involved to achieve the growth ambitions that we have, and it is always exciting to see that work come to fruition.

What was your journey to becoming a private equity investor?

My journey was a little unusual, there are not too many people in the industry with a degree in medieval history followed by seven years as a commodity trader. And I am not an accountant. The catalyst for me moving into private equity was that as I got more senior in a large corporate, I realised the decisions being taken which would move shareholder value were being taken a long way away from my trading desk. I wanted to be able to influence business outcomes and work with management teams to do that and I suppose I was too impatient to work my way up a corporate ladder. So, I applied to 3i which ran a training program for people from a wide range of commercial backgrounds and the rest is history.

Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us!

I love Million Dollar Listing New York and Below Deck – enough said!