{"id":11694,"date":"2021-08-10T12:39:56","date_gmt":"2021-08-10T12:39:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stg-z48vid.elementor.cloud\/about-us\/dr-willem-keijzer"},"modified":"2026-10-13T07:29:32","modified_gmt":"2026-10-13T07:29:32","slug":"dr-willem-keijzer","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cnx-transactions.de\/en\/about-us\/dr-willem-keijzer","title":{"rendered":"Dr. Willem Keijzer"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Founder & Managing Partner \u2013 Munich<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

About Dr Willem Keijzer<\/span><\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Since 2010, I have been helping entrepreneurs sell their businesses. Before that, I advised both DAX-listed corporations and small and medium-sized enterprises on strategy, digital transformation, and operations. As an engineer, I have a different perspective on businesses: for me, the business always comes first, then the numbers.<\/p>\n\t\t

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30 minutes \u00b7 video call \u00b7 confidential<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n

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01<\/p>\n\t\t

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Doctorate<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

TU Munich, Chair
of Product Development<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n

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Guest speaker<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

IHK and Frankfurt School
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Publisher<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

LinkedIn newsletter
THE M&A-CODE<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/section>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t

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My story<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

How I came to M&A<\/span><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t

In 2010, a family business owner called me and asked if I could help oversee the sale of a subsidiary. Since I had never managed an M&A process from start to finish, I slept on it for two nights first. Then I agreed. The sale was successful; the company was acquired by a buyer from India. Afterward, three things became clear to me:<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t

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Fulfilment<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

I enjoy this work more than anything I\u2019d done before.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n

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02<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Experience<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

A company sale brings together everything I\u2019d learned up to that point \u2013 strategy, operations, digital transformation, numbers, and negotiation.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n

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03<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Responsibility<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

It\u2019s precisely at this moment that an entrepreneur needs someone by his side who\u2019s done this more often than he has. Because, as a rule, he\u2019s only doing it once.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t

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That same year, I founded CNX Transaction Partners.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t

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Experience<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

My career<\/span><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t

I was born and raised in the Netherlands. I\u2019ve been living in Munich since 1999.

I studied industrial engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology and computer science at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences. I earned my Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from the Chair of Product Development at the Technical University of Munich.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Dr.\t\t\n<\/div>\n

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Strategy consulting<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Advising DAX-listed corporations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t

There, I advised DAX-listed corporations on strategy development and, among other things, prepared them for corporate divestitures and carve-out processes. That was my first look at M&A from the inside \u2013 though from the perspective of the corporation, not the owner.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n

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BMW Group<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

IT and digital transformation projects<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Led complex IT and digital transformation projects for the BMW Group itself as well as for its suppliers and partners. At the same time, I worked on operational improvements for numerous medium-sized companies, focusing on production, logistics, procurement, and product development.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n

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Boutique consultancy<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Focus on medium-sized companies<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t

As a co-founder and managing partner of a consulting firm, I then focused entirely on medium-sized companies. In the process, I found myself increasingly involved in M&A and corporate finance situations.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n

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2010 \u00b7 CNX Transaction Partners<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Founding<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Until I received the call that ultimately led to the founding of CNX Transaction Partners.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t

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My approach<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

What you can<\/span> expect from me<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t

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Preparation<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

\u201cThose who are thoroughly prepared and have a well-managed process negotiate from a position of strength. Anything else is just wishful thinking.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

The best results in an M&A process don\u2019t come from the negotiations. They come from the preparation.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n

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Plain speaking<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

\u201cWhatever a buyer uncovers during due diligence should have already been uncovered by someone on your side.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

That\u2019s why I\u2019m going to tell you what you don\u2019t want to hear.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n

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The human side<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

\u201cFor the owner, selling a business is rarely a purely financial decision.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

It\u2019s about what they\u2019ve built \u2013 often over decades. I\u2019ve guided numerous entrepreneurs through this emotional roller coaster, and this part of the work is at least as important as the financial model.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n

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Way of working<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

\u201cDutch entrepreneurial spirit combined with German discipline.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

That\u2019s how I work: pragmatic and to the point, thorough and structured in my approach.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t

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Beyond advisory<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Involvement & publications<\/span><\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t

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Boards & mandates<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t

Where I carry responsibility.<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t