Meet the Team
Meet the people who will work with you.
OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM
Our executive team leads from the front, combining real-world deal experience with a clear focus on outcomes. Having operated on both sides of transactions, Rick and Andrew work closely with clients to understand their goals, shape the right strategy and drive the process. Their strength lies in creating the conditions for premium outcomes by leveraging global reach, market insight and a disciplined approach to execution.
Andrew Bahlmann CA(SA),
Corporate & Advisory
Andrew leads the Corporate & Advisory division, working closely with business owners, corporates and private equity on complex, high-stakes exits. Having built and sold businesses himself, he brings a practical, outcomes-focused approach to every transaction. Andrew is a recognised M&A thought leader, hosting The M&A Exit Lab podcast and contributing regularly to the media.
Rick Grantham (MBA)
Mid-Market
Rick leads the Mid-Market division and is actively involved in executing transactions for business owners. He advises on growth, positioning and achieving premium exits. Having built, acquired and sold businesses himself, Rick brings a practical, results-driven perspective to every engagement. He is also the author of Premium Exit Blueprint on Substack, a weekly thought-leadership series in which he shares insights to help entrepreneurs navigate the complexities of selling a business.
OUR DEAL TEAM
The deal team plays a central role in driving transactions from preparation through to completion. Working closely with clients and acquirers, they combine financial and valuation insight with hands-on execution. From shaping market-facing materials to managing engagement and negotiations, they ensure each process is structured, controlled and positioned to achieve the best possible outcome for our clients.
Janine Wright CGMA, MFin
Deal Executive
Janine supports the execution of transactions from preparation through to close. She plays a key role in financial analysis, client and acquirer engagement, and deal process management. Janine brings strong financial insight and discipline, helping ensure transactions are well-structured and run smoothly.
John Powell CA(SA) | CGMA
Transaction Executive
John supports the execution of complex M&A transactions and is actively involved in originating new business initiatives. He contributes to financial analysis, prepares market-facing materials and manages interactions with clients and acquirers, helping ensure transactions are well-structured and executed effectively.
Andries Louw
Deal Executive
Andries specialises in financial modelling, valuations and deal analysis. He supports transaction execution through analytical insights, the preparation of market-facing materials, and stakeholder engagement. Andries brings precision and clarity to the deal process, helping position businesses effectively and support strong outcomes.
Nitish Mudgal CA(SA), CFA, M(Com)
Transaction Executive
Nitish specialises in financial analysis, valuations and investment assessment. He supports deal execution through detailed analysis, preparation of materials and engagement with stakeholders. Nitish brings a data-driven approach to evaluating opportunities and helps ensure transactions are executed with rigour and insight.
FINANCIAL ANALYTICS
The financial analytics team underpins every transaction with rigorous financial insight and analytical depth. They support deal execution through financial modelling, valuation analysis and due diligence, ensuring accuracy and clarity at every stage. By translating complex financial information into meaningful insight, they help evaluate opportunities, manage risk and support confident, well-informed decision-making.
Taryn Henkel CA (SA)
Executive: Finance Analysis
Taryn works on transactions in the Corporate & Advisory division, applying her expertise in financial analysis, reporting and technical accounting to complex deals. With extensive auditing experience, she ensures financial accuracy, strengthens due diligence and refines how businesses are presented to buyers, contributing to credible, well-prepared outcomes.
Dylan Puchert ACMA, CGMA
Transaction Analyst
Dylan supports deal execution through financial modelling, valuation analysis and due diligence. He works closely with the deal team to translate financial details into clear insights, helping ensure businesses are accurately positioned and supporting informed decision-making throughout the transaction process.
Cameron Maingard CA (SA)
Corporate Transaction Analyst
Cameron supports complex transactions through financial modelling, valuation and analytical insight. He focuses on understanding key value drivers and the broader strategic context, helping evaluate opportunities and support decision-making. Cameron brings strong analytical discipline and a collaborative approach to the deal team.
RESEARCH AND BUSINESS ANALYTICS
The research and business analytics team identifies and evaluates the most relevant buyers for each transaction. Through sector analysis, market intelligence, and data-driven insights, they identify strategic acquirers and support targeted engagement. Their work ensures each deal is positioned to the right audience, strengthening buyer interest and maximising competitive tension.
Reitumetse Pitso
Research Analyst
Reitumetse focuses on identifying and profiling potential acquirers. Drawing on her background in finance journalism and commerce, she brings a research-led approach to understanding industries, buyer behaviour and market dynamics, helping ensure each transaction is supported by well-informed, targeted buyer identification.
Terry Stratis
Market Intelligence & Acquirer Strategy
Terry uses data-driven insights to identify and prioritise the most relevant buyers for each transaction. With deep experience in global financial markets, he analyses macro trends, valuation drivers and risk to support deal positioning and ensure clients engage with acquirers who recognise strategic value.
MARKET ENGAGEMENT
The market engagement function ensures each transaction is positioned to the right buyer audience. Working from a strategically defined buyer universe, it focuses on identifying and engaging the most relevant decision-makers within those organisations, positioning the opportunity to drive engagement with market-facing materials and initial meetings.
Rudolph is responsible for engaging the right contacts within the defined buyer universe for each transaction. He identifies and connects with key decision-makers, positioning opportunities to secure engagement with market-facing materials and meetings. With global investment experience, Rudolph helps ensure DLI connects with the right people within the right buyers.
Rudolph Vermeulen
Manager: Market Engagement
OPERATIONS
Operations underpins DLI’s ability to execute transactions with consistency, control and strategic precision. It ensures the systems, governance and processes are in place to support seamless deal delivery, while integrating technology, data and internal platforms to improve operational efficiency and coordination across the business.
Melanie Browne
Manager: Operations
Melanie ensures our governance, processes, and systems support seamless deal execution. She oversees the development and implementation of operational frameworks that enable consistency, control and efficiency across transactions. With extensive experience in financial services, Melanie plays a key role in maintaining the structure behind successful deal delivery.
Jonathan Stevens
Systems and Technology
Jonathan oversees the systems and technology function, including the development of internal market intelligence databases and AI integrations that support efficient deal execution across the business. His work focuses on ensuring DLI’s systems, data and technology infrastructure work together seamlessly to improve operational efficiency across the company.
NEW BUSINESS INITIATIVES
New Business Initiatives (NBI) drives the firm’s deal pipeline by identifying and engaging with the right opportunities. Through research, data analysis and targeted outreach, the team ensures DLI connects with business owners at the right time, building a strong foundation for successful transactions.
Lorna Paterson
NBI Manager
Lorna leads client engagement and opportunity development. She oversees CRM strategy and ensures consistent, structured interaction with prospective clients. Through research and engagement, Lorna helps identify quality opportunities and supports the early stages of the deal pipeline, strengthening DLI’s ability to connect with the right businesses at the right time.
Nina Vila-Pouca
NBI Co-ordinator
Nina supports client engagement and the management of DLI’s deal pipeline. She plays a key role in maintaining CRM quality, coordinating outreach and ensuring smooth interaction with prospective clients. Nina brings strong organisational and commercial support, helping drive consistent and effective early-stage engagement.
Matt van Westenbrugge
NBI Analyst
Matt identifies and evaluates new business opportunities. He combines macroeconomic insight with financial analysis to assess industries, market dynamics and potential clients. Matt plays a key role in research and data-driven decision-making, helping ensure DLI engages with the right opportunities at the right time.
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