Professional Profiles
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Katharina BALLUN
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Position Head of M&A World Support Center
Languages German; English; Hungarian
Focus locations Europe
Focus industries AF - Agriculture & Food; IT - IT & Communication; MF - Manufacturing
Introduction Katharina Ballun is the Head of M&A World Support Center and a Senior M&A Advisor. Her previous workplaces include prominent organizations such as IMAP (MB Partner Zrt.), where she served as an M&A Analyst; Hofmann Ltd., where she was the Financial Director overseeing the company's financial department; and ExxonMobil, where she worked as a Corporate Financial Advisor. She holds three degrees: Budapest College of Finance and Accounting (tax and accounting), Budapest Corvinus University (corporate finance), and Semmelweis University (Culture). She is proficient in Hungarian, English, and German. Over the past years she has successfully closed several large cross-border merger and acquisition transactions, led the M&A World Support Center, and played a pivotal role in numerous company valuations, transaction structures, and due diligence processes.
Dávid VÁRI
Position Regional Manager
Languages German; English; Hungarian
Focus locations 🇦🇹 Austria; 🇨🇭 Switzerland; 🇩🇪 Germany
Focus industries AF - Agriculture & Food; ME - Medical & Healthcare; MF - Manufacturing
Introduction Patrick D. Vari is our senior consultant and specialist in the areas of food and agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare and their products. His many years of experience as an entrepreneur in the food industry enables him to incorporate this knowledge into the deals. He was born in Germany and completed his school career there with a BA in economics. He is always ambitious to serve our clients in the best possible way in German, English or Hungarian. His international career took place in South East Asia, where he completed M&A deals with multi national partners. His experience on the international M&A stage is an important cornerstone of our network.
Géza FILEP
Position Regional Manager
Languages German; English; Croatian; Hungarian; Serbian
Focus locations 🇭🇷 Croatia; 🇭🇺 Hungary; 🇷🇸 Serbia; 🇸🇮 Slovenia
Focus industries AF - Agriculture & Food; IT - IT & Communication; ME - Medical & Healthcare; MF - Manufacturing; TD - Trade; TP - Transportation
Introduction The Regional Manager CEE & West Balkan Senior M&A Advisor is Géza Filep, has started his career in the petroleum industry in the former Yugoslavia as university graduated economist. He gained his first work experience in Western Europe in Belgium trading with industrial diamonds. In Austria first job was by Mercedes and managed the Mercedes car leasing sister company in Budapest. Next useful experience he has gained as banker by (CREDITANSTALT Austria sister bank company) asset financing in Budapest. After 10 years’ experience as corporate finance adviser he is engaged with international M&A Advisory for 15 years. He speaks Hungarian, German, English and Serbo-Croatian language.
Tanja VOJVODIC
Position Local Advisor
Languages English; Serbian
Focus locations 🇷🇸 Serbia
Focus industries AF - Agriculture & Food; IT - IT & Communication; ME - Medical & Healthcare; MF - Manufacturing; TD - Trade; TP - Transportation
Introduction Tanja Vojvodic is an accomplished marketing professional with 18 years of experience, who has a proven track record in brand development and strategic communication across international markets, particularly in the Pharmaceutical, FMCG, and IT sectors. As a Director of Brand Development at BridgeCom and Kreativa Unlimited, she has successfully led major campaigns and brand positioning efforts for key clients like Pharmanova, Hemofarm, and Sarantis. Her expertise includes media strategy, social media management, and comprehensive marketing communications. With a passion for psychology and dance, she brings a creative and holistic approach to her work. She holds a background in International Law from the University of Belgrade and has furthered her education in digital marketing and social media communication. Besides her native language of Serbian, she also speeks English.
Denis SMOLAR
Position Local Advisor
Languages English; Croatian
Focus locations 🇭🇷 Croatia
Focus industries AF - Agriculture & Food; IT - IT & Communication; ME - Medical & Healthcare; MF - Manufacturing; TD - Trade; TP - Transportation
Introduction Denis Smolar is a highly experienced finance and accounting professional with over 25 years of expertise in investment banking, corporate finance, and advisory roles. He currently serves as a Certified Court Expert in Finance and Accounting at Denves Advisory, a firm he co-founded to provide strategic financial services. Denis has a strong background in mergers and acquisitions, financial restructuring, and interim management. He holds an MBA from IEDC-Poslovna šola Bled and is an ACCA-certified accountant. Spoken languages are Croatian and English.
Marius RIMBOACA
Position Local Advisor
Languages English; Romanian
Focus locations 🇷🇴 Romania
Focus industries AF - Agriculture & Food; IT - IT & Communication; ME - Medical & Healthcare; MF - Manufacturing; TD - Trade; TP - Transportation
Introduction Marius Rimboaca is a seasoned attorney at law with over 20 years of experience, currently serving as the Managing Partner of Law Office Marius Rimboaca / IBS Legal in Bucharest, Romania. He is a member of the Bucharest Bar Association and a certified mediator, specializing in M&A, corporate and commercial law, real estate, GDPR, and employment law. Rimboaca's career includes notable positions such as Senior Associate at Schoenherr & Associates and Head of the Real Estate department at Voicu Filipescu / Squire, Sanders and Dempsey. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Law from the University of Bucharest and a Master's degree in Business Law from The Nicolae Titulescu University of Bucharest. Spoken languages are Romanian and English.
Krisztina BOLLIG
Position Partnership Manager
Languages English; Hungarian
Focus locations All Locations
Focus industries All Industries
Introduction Krisztina Bollig is the Partnerships Manager since 2023 at M&A WORLD, based in Budakeszi, Hungary. With 20 years of experience collected from businesses in California, USA, she brings a wealth of international insight to her role. Educated at Külkereskedelmi Főiskola from 1998 to 2001, her diverse background in international environments strengthens her ability to manage and develop strategic partnerships within the M&A sector. Fluent in Hungarian, English, and French, Krisztina is known for her excellent communication skills and problem-solving capabilities. She is also dedicated to mentoring and coaching, working with executives to drive business success.
Csaba IZBÉKI
Position Regional Manager
Languages English; Hungarian
Focus locations 🇭🇺 Hungary; 🇷🇴 Romania
Focus industries AF - Agriculture & Food; IT - IT & Communication; MF - Manufacturing; RE - Real Estate & Services
Introduction Csaba Izbeki is a seasoned professional with over 25 years of management and sales experience in business transactions. His extensive career has spanned multinational and multicultural environments, demonstrating his adeptness at navigating complex, diverse markets. Csaba holds two diplomas that underpin his expertise, further solidifying his standing as a knowledgeable and reliable advisor in the M&A industry. His strategic vision and proven track record make him a valuable asset in driving successful M&A transactions.
Ricardo MONTERO
Position Local Advisor
Languages English; Spanish
Focus locations 🇲🇽 Mexico
Focus industries AF - Agriculture & Food; IT - IT & Communication; ME - Medical & Healthcare; MF - Manufacturing; TD - Trade; TP - Transportation
Introduction Ricardo Montero is a seasoned finance professional with over 30 years of experience, including 20 years in multinational companies across the automotive and consumer products sectors. He has a proven track record in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and the implementation of shared services and corporate governance structures. As the Managing Partner of CAPAFIN Consultoría Especializada, S.C., he has successfully led financial advisory projects, including structured financing and stock market debt placements. Ricardo's leadership is characterized by a strategic perspective, a results-oriented approach, and a strong commitment to professional ethics. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance from Universidad Tecnológica de México. Spoken languages are Spanish and English.
Bogdan MUGESCU
Position Local Advisor
Languages English; Romanian
Focus locations 🇷🇴 Romania
Focus industries AF - Agriculture & Food; IT - IT & Communication; ME - Medical & Healthcare; MF - Manufacturing; TD - Trade; TP - Transportation
Introduction Bogdan Mugescu is a highly experienced professional in Romania, specializing in corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions. As a Local Partner of M&A World, he plays a crucial role in facilitating strategic transactions and business growth within the Romanian market. Bogdan is known for his expertise in navigating complex financial landscapes and delivering tailored solutions that maximize value for his clients. With a strong track record in both local and international markets, he is a key figure in Romania's M&A sector. His dedication to excellence and deep industry knowledge make him a trusted advisor in the business community.
Alper UYAR
Position Local Advisor
Languages English; Turkish
Focus locations 🇹🇷 Türkiye
Focus industries MF - Manufacturing; SO - Services & Others
Introduction Extensive financial and business advisory experience coupled with +20 years of executive positions in several financial institutions: factoring, leasing, consumer finance, corporate finance; fleet-leasing, automotive, software and investment banking.
Brian FARRUGIA
Position Local Advisor
Languages English
Focus locations 🇬🇧 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Focus industries AF - Agriculture & Food; IT - IT & Communication; ME - Medical & Healthcare; MF - Manufacturing; TD - Trade; TP - Transportation
Introduction Brian Farrugia is the Founder and Managing Partner at Prime Advantage Capital Partners in London, with a career spanning 40 years in the service industry, including roles as CEO and Chairman. He has extensive experience in building businesses, acquiring and disposing of companies internationally, and creating joint ventures and franchises. Since founding Prime Advantage Advisory in 2013, Brian has focused on working with SMEs to drive growth, create value, and maximize shareholder wealth. In 2016, he expanded his services by establishing Prime Advantage Corporate Finance to provide a full suite of corporate finance solutions. Additionally, Brian serves as an M&A World Local Partner in England, further enhancing his global business reach.
Cristian M. DUCU
Position Local Advisor
Languages English; Romanian
Focus locations 🇷🇴 Romania
Focus industries AF - Agriculture & Food; IT - IT & Communication; MF - Manufacturing; RE - Real Estate & Services
Introduction Cristian Ducu is the founder of Carpathian Ventures, bringing over five years of experience in startups, funding, and research and innovation (R&I) programs. He has been actively involved in various European and US initiatives, including Horizon Europe, SBIR, and Eureka. Cristian's work involves navigating these complex funding landscapes to secure support for innovative projects. His experience spans the entire lifecycle of these programs, from strategic planning to execution, ensuring impactful outcomes. He is fluent in Romanian and English. This also aids in his capacity to engage with a diverse range of stakeholders across different regions.