LONDON, 19 May, 2025 – Advent, a leading global private equity investor, today announced the appointment of Mike Ettling as an Operating Partner. Mike will play an active role in helping identify new investment opportunities in the enterprise technology sector, oversee portfolio company initiatives, and will work closely with the Advent team on broader leadership and culture activities.
“We have had the privilege of working with Mike for over a decade and we are delighted to welcome him as an Operating Partner. Mike has a rare blend of deep enterprise software expertise and hands-on leadership experience. He has not only guided companies through complex transformations, but helped them scale with clarity and purpose,” said Eric Wei, Managing Director at Advent. “His ability to balance product strategy, customer focus, and revenue growth, while also prioritizing continuous improvement, will help support the high-performing companies that we continue to build across our technology portfolio. More broadly, Mike is a thoughtful, globally minded leader who brings a supportive coaching and mentorship style that truly resonates with founders and teams alike.”
Mike is a globally recognized leader in the enterprise software industry, with over three decades of experience. He is the Executive Chairman of SYSPRO, a leading provider of digital manufacturing technology, recently acquired by Advent. Previously, Mike was CEO of Unit4, a global cloud ERP software vendor, formerly owned by Advent, and President of SAP SuccessFactors, a provider of cloud HCM solutions.
“I’ve seen firsthand how private equity, when combined with the right leadership and strategy, can unlock significant value,” said Mike Ettling. “Advent’s approach goes beyond providing capital; they bring strategic insight, operational expertise, and a collaborative spirit that empowers CEOs to achieve long-term growth. I’m looking forward to contributing to the success of Advent’s portfolio and helping ambitious companies achieve transformational growth and innovation.”
“We are thrilled to formalize our long-standing partnership with Mike. He is an exceptional leader whose global experience and people-first mindset will be a tremendous asset to both Advent and our portfolio companies,” said Douglas Hallstrom, Director at Advent. “His insights will be instrumental in helping our portfolio companies accelerate and stay ahead, particularly as we continue to develop product platform strategies which are ever more relevant in an AI world. We are excited for him to contribute to our leadership initiatives and help further strengthen our collaborative, values-driven culture.”
Mike is an active advisor, board member, and private investor to a number of technology companies. He plays a key role in mentoring startups with scaling and innovating and has significant experience in building teams and championing diversity. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of the Witwatersrand and a Masters in Finance from London Business School.
Advent has invested in the technology sector for over 30 years and has completed over 100 investments worldwide in more than 25 countries. With its global presence, deep cross-sector network, company-scaling resources, and flexible capital, Advent’s approach is focused on companies targeting innovation and growth at scale.
About Advent
Advent is a leading global private equity investor committed to working in partnership with management teams, entrepreneurs, and founders to help transform businesses. With 16 offices across five continents, we oversee more than USD $91 billion in assets under management* and have made 430 investments across 44 countries.
Since our founding in 1984, we have developed specialist market expertise across our five core sectors: business & financial services, consumer, healthcare, industrial, and technology. This approach is bolstered by our deep sub-sector knowledge, which informs every aspect of our investment strategy, from sourcing opportunities to working in partnership with management to execute value creation plans. We bring hands-on operational expertise to enhance and accelerate businesses.
As one of the largest privately-owned partnerships, our 660+ colleagues leverage the full ecosystem of Advent’s global resources, including our Portfolio Support Group, insights provided by industry expert Operating Partners and Operations Advisors, as well as bespoke tools to support and guide our portfolio companies as they seek to achieve their strategic goals.
To learn more, visit our website or connect with us on LinkedIn.
*Assets under management (AUM) as of December 31, 2024. AUM includes assets attributable to Advent advisory clients as well as employee and third-party co-investment vehicles.
Media contact
Peter Folland
Tel: +44 7350 407473
pfolland@adventinternational.co.uk
