Alvarez & Marsal Europe

Senior Director, Shareholder Activism and Contested M&A

Alvarez & Marsal Europe$175K — $250K *
Finance & Insurance
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years in institutional investing, equity research, or capital markets advisory
  • Expertise in equity analysis, valuation, and investor dynamics
  • Experience engaging with C-suite executives on capital markets strategy
  • Background in shareholder activism and contested M&A situations
  • Strong financial modeling skills with Excel and financial databases
  • Excellent communication skills for clear narrative presentations
  • Collaborative mindset with strong interpersonal skills

Responsibilities

  • Lead engagements with C-suite executives to address capital markets challenges
  • Develop preparedness strategies for shareholder activism risk
  • Advise boards on defense strategies during live activism situations
  • Conduct equity analysis to understand market value versus fundamentals
  • Prepare teams for high-visibility corporate events and strategic planning
  • Design capital allocation frameworks optimizing buybacks, dividends, and reinvestment
  • Mentor junior talent to build practice capabilities

Benefits

  • Healthcare plans including flexible spending and savings accounts
  • 401(k) retirement savings plan with annual discretionary contributions
  • Paid time off including vacation, personal days, and sick leave
  • Ten federal holidays and one floating holiday
  • Parental leave policies
Full Job Description
Description

The Team

Our practice brings together capital markets expertise, operational excellence, and investor perspective to help public company management teams and boards enhance and protect shareholder value. We work across industries and in collaboration with other A&M practices to help companies strengthen their equity story, prepare for and navigate shareholder activism, defend contested M&A situations, and optimize capital allocation strategies.

We combine deep capital markets experience with A&M's best-in-class operational and industry expertise. Together, we diagnose valuation gaps, identify activism vulnerabilities, and develop actionable strategies that drive improved shareholder sentiment and long-term value creation.
• At A&M you will have the opportunity to work with a diverse team of supportive and motivated professionals that love to share their knowledge and depth of industry experience with others. We work with practices and professionals from a wide range of backgrounds across A&M.
• We have an inclusive developmental environment where everyone has the opportunity to learn and grow. Our culture is characterized by openness and entrepreneurial thinking, with a foundation of mutual respect and high-quality standards for our work.
• We strive to remove bureaucracy in favor of recognizing our team through advancement opportunities and a motivating performance-based reward structure.

How you will contribute

As a Senior Director you will lead engagements with C-suite executives and boards to address their most pressing capital markets challenges. You will bring credible investor perspective to high-stakes situations: from strengthening investor conviction around an undervalued equity story, to building preparedness and defense strategies when confronted with shareholder activism, to arming companies that are defending contested M&A situations. Working alongside clients' other advisors you will serve as a strategist focused on protecting and enhancing equity value through investor engagement and market-facing strategy.

You will have the opportunity to continue building the practice, be client facings, develop junior talent, and advance within A&M.

You will leverage your experience as an institutional investor, in equity research, or capital markets advisory to work across two key areas:

I. Shareholder Activism
• Assess shareholder activism risk and develop comprehensive preparedness strategies, identifying vulnerabilities across financial performance, governance, and capital allocation before activists become interested
• Build and execute defense strategies in live activism situations, advising boards and management on investor engagement tactics, shareholder outreach sequencing, and settlement scenario modeling
• Advise on board composition, governance practices, and executive compensation through an investor lens

II. Equity Strategy
• Conduct equity analysis and investor perception studies to diagnose why the market values a company relative to its fundamentals and peers
• Prepare management teams and boards for high-visibility corporate events, including investor days, M&A, and launching multi-year strategic plans
• Advise on and build capital allocation frameworks that optimize value, modeling trade-offs across buybacks, dividends, M&A, and reinvestment

Qualifications

You have deep capital markets expertise and think like a sophisticated investor. You bring credible perspectives on what drives long-term shareholder value and how the market evaluates companies. Your background includes experience in one or more of the following:
• Equity research at a leading investment bank, independent research firm
• Institutional asset management, long-only investing
• Equity capital markets, corporate strategy, or investor relations at a major corporation

You understand investor behavior, valuation dynamics, and capital markets mechanics from direct experience.
• 10+ years of professional experience in institutional investing, equity research, investment banking, corporate strategy, or capital markets advisory with demonstrated credibility in how capital markets participants evaluate and value companies
• Demonstrated expertise in equity analysis, valuation, and investor dynamics
• Track record of credible engagement with C-suite executives and boards on capital markets strategy
• Prior experience in shareholder activism, proxy contests, or contested M&A situations
• Strong financial modeling and analytical skills; proficiency with Excel, PowerPoint, and financial databases (FactSet, Bloomberg, CapIQ)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to distill complex analyses into clear, persuasive narratives
• Ability to work effectively in ambiguous, high-pressure situations and manage competing client priorities
• Collaborative mindset with strong interpersonal skills; ability to build trust quickly across diverse stakeholder groups
• Willingness to be hands-on and contribute directly to client work and analysis
• Flexibility to support client needs, including travel and non-standard work schedules

Desirable Qualifications
• CFA designation
• Background in private equity or corporate finance
• Industry or sector-specific expertise in capital-intensive or high-scrutiny sectors

Your journey at A&M

Regular employees working 30 or more hours per week are also entitled to participate in Alvarez & Marsal Holdings' fringe benefits consisting of healthcare plans, flexible spending and savings accounts, life, AD&D, and disability coverages at rates determined periodically as well as a 401(k) retirement savings plan. Provided the eligibility requirements are met, employees will also receive an annual discretionary contribution to their 401(k) retirement savings plan from Alvarez & Marsal. Additionally, employees are eligible for paid time off including vacation, personal days, seventy-two (72) hours of sick time (prorated for part time employees), ten federal holidays, one floating holiday, and parental leave. The amount of vacation and personal days available varies based on tenure and role type. Click here for more information regarding A&M's benefits programs .

The salary range is $175,000 - $250,000 annually, dependent on several variables including but not limited to education, experience, skills, and geography. In addition, A&M offers a discretionary bonus program which is based on a number of factors, including individual and firm performance. Please ask your recruiter for details.

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About Alvarez & Marsal Europe

Alvarez & Marsal Europe is a management consulting firm that provides a range of services to businesses and organizations. The company was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in London, UK. Alvarez & Marsal Europe's services include corporate restructuring, performance improvement, and transaction advisory services. The company has a global presence, with offices in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Alvarez & Marsal Europe is known for its expertise in turnaround management and has worked with a number of high-profile clients, including Lehman Brothers and Enron.
Learn more about Alvarez & Marsal Europe
Size
5,000 employees
Industry
Founded
2003

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