Our dedicated team
Get to know the people behind Maxus.

At Maxus, we're redefining private equity, driven by entrepreneurial instinct and a relentless ambition to create long-term value.
We operate as one team, pushing boundaries together, because delivering real impact is a collective effort.

Carl Grysolle
Carl brings deep financial expertise and network, a relentless drive, and relevant private equity experience in the small- and mid-cap space. He spent over a decade in London where he began his career in investment banking at Lazard before transitioning into private equity by joining Crossroads, an emerging investment firm which builds operational platforms across real estate and related sectors.
Throughout his career, Carl developed a strong conviction in the value of entrepreneurial capital, value-add networks and long-term partnerships. That vision eventually led to the founding of Maxus in 2022.
Carl holds a Master of Law & Economics from the Catholic University of Leuven and an MSc in Finance from the University of Oxford.

Paul Jr. Thiers
Paul brings a strong entrepreneurial mindset with solid investment experience across private equity. He began his career at Naxicap Partners in Paris, where he gained hands-on experience in small- and mid-cap investments across a range of sectors.
In 2016, he moved to the US with Origis Energy. Together with the management team, they scaled Origis into a top 3 solar developer in the US. In 2021, Paul supported the successful sale of Origis Energy backed by Global Atlantic (KKR).
Following his return to Belgium, Paul focused on shaping the private equity strategy of his family office Thinc.Capital. Seeing firsthand the untapped potential for family offices to access opportunities beyond their core sectors and geographies, ultimately led to the foundation of Maxus.
Paul holds a Bachelor Business Engineering from the Catholic University of Leuven, a Master in Business Engineering from Solvay Business School and an MSc in Finance from Cass Business School of London.

Jack Whatton
Before joining Maxus, Jack spent a decade at institutional asset management firms in London. He most recently led European venture capital fund investments at the balance sheet investment arm of Legal & General Group, a FTSE 100 financial institution, where he also held roles in Corporate Strategy and M&A. Earlier in his career, he spent two years at BlackRock in various roles within the ETF division.
Jack’s experience across corporate strategy, private equity and venture capital has shaped a sharp investment judgment and a strong network in the European private equity ecosystem. Based in London, an essential hub for private markets, he brings valuable proximity to the broader investment landscape, while staying closely connected to the Maxus team with regular visits to the Ghent office.
Jack holds a First Class BA in English from Jesus College, Oxford, and is a Fellow of the Newton Venture Programme.

Matthias Verhamme
Upon joining Maxus in 2025, Matthias brought 12 years of experience in direct private equity, strategy, and operational value creation. He started his career at Lazard, advising on complex cross-border M&A, before joining the investment team at TBG, a Zürich-based investment holding, where he worked with global technology and industrial portfolio companies on strategy and transformation initiatives.
At Bencis Capital Partners, a leading mid-market private equity fund in the Benelux, Matthias focused on investments in technology, business services, and industrials. Most recently, Matthias was Head of Finance at Aikido Security, a fast-growing cybersecurity company, where he helped drive growth and scale operations.
Fueled by a deep interest in technology and value creation, and guided by a hands-on, entrepreneurial mindset, Matthias is passionate about partnering with ambitious companies and investors to help them become leaders in their field.
Matthias holds an MSc in Electromechanical Engineering from Ghent University and an MSc in Finance from Cass Business School in London.

Ruben Clerebaut
Ruben developed his private equity foundation at PMV, building out the fund portfolio and the Belgian Growth Fund with a focus on small-cap buyout funds. During this time, he managed the complete execution cycle of fund investments and portfolio monitoring, gaining valuable insights into performance drivers across the private equity landscape. Before his time at PMV, Ruben's career started with formative experiences at Rivean Capital, BNP Paribas Principal Investments, and Sofindev Private Equity Partners, where he developed a strong analytical foundation.
Drawn to Maxus' entrepreneurial culture and long-term value orientation, Ruben firmly believes that disciplined selection is the chief driver of outperformance in private equity.
Ruben holds Master's degrees in Applied Economics and Taxation from the Catholic University of Leuven, and a Master's degree in Financial Management from Vlerick Business School.

Karel Leys
Karel developed his investment expertise through a broad range of experiences across investment banking, private equity, and consulting. He began his career in Bank of America’s Investment Banking division in London, advising corporates and financial sponsors on M&A and capital markets transactions across Europe.
Before that, he built a solid analytical foundation through internships at Rabobank, SmartFin, Merodis, and BrightWolves, where he gained exposure to M&A, venture capital, and strategic advisory work.
Karel joined Maxus in 2025 as an Investment Associate, motivated by the firm’s dynamic environment and its hands-on, entrepreneur-focused investment approach.
He holds a Master’s degree in Business Engineering from KU Leuven and broadened his academic perspective during an international exchange at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Miguel Maertens
Miguel built his investment foundation through internships at Smile Invest, BNP Paribas’ Investment Banking division, and Cobepa, where he gained hands-on experience in private equity, financial analysis, and transaction execution. These experiences helped him develop a strong analytical mindset and a deep interest in understanding the drivers of business growth and value creation across industries.
Drawn to Maxus Capital’s entrepreneurial spirit and partnership-driven approach, Miguel joined the firm as an Investment Analyst.
Miguel holds a Master’s degree in Business Engineering from KU Leuven and has a strong academic background, having completed international exchanges at the University of British Columbia and the University of Sydney.

Alec Janssens
Alec built his investment foundation through internships in private equity and corporate finance across Belgium and Germany.
At Trajan Capital and Intaria AG, he gained hands-on experience in evaluating investment opportunities, supporting transaction processes, and working closely with management teams and advisors. These experiences strengthened his analytical skill set and deepened his interest in understanding the drivers of long-term value creation.
Alec first joined Maxus for an internship, drawn to its entrepreneurial approach to partnering with emerging fund managers, and the fast‑paced, hands-on environment that encourages early responsibility.
Following his internship, he transitioned into the role of Investment Analyst in 2026.
Alec holds Master’s degree in Business Administration - Finance and Risk Management from Ghent University and an Advanced Master in Financial Markets from Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management. He also broadened his academic perspective during an exchange semester at Uppsala University in Sweden.

Elise Carton
As Head of Finance & Operations, Elise oversees all non-investment aspects of the firm.
Prior to joining Maxus, Elise spent 11 years at PwC, where she was a Director in the Deals department. In addition to advising on transactions, valuations and financial modeling projects, she was the driving force behind the firm’s Belgian and later also European venture practice. In this capacity, she was responsible for the service offerings, go-to-market, partnerships and the firm’s strategy related to entrepreneurs, venture capital and corporate venturing.
Throughout her career, she developed a deep appreciation for entrepreneurship and learned she thrives in fast-growing environments. This passion for growth and scalability is what drives Elise in her current role, ensuring seamless operations that grow alongside the firm’s ambitions.
Elise holds a Master’s degree in Applied Economics from the University of Ghent.

Nasos Vagenas
At Maxus, Nasos leads fund administration with deep expertise across private equity, real estate, and banking. His experience spans investor reporting, portfolio monitoring, and financial operations, developed through key roles in fund administration, fund control, and financial analysis.
His professional journey includes formative roles as Fund Administration Officer at Tribeca Fund Management, Fund Controller at IH International Advisors, and ALM Business Analyst at AXA Bank Europe.
Driven by a passion for financial clarity and operational excellence, Nasos is focused on building the robust administrative foundation that supports Maxus’ investment philosophy. His commitment to precision and transparency reflects the firm’s approach to wealth stewardship.
Nasos holds an MSc in Finance & Investments from Rotterdam School of Management.

Elise Van de Voorde
As Finance Manager, Elise oversees the day-to-day financial operations of Maxus Capital across its various investment vehicles.
Prior to joining Maxus, she spent seven years at EY, where she was a Senior Manager in the Strategy & Transactions department. In this role, Elise focused on financial due diligence and deal advisory for both buy-side and sell-side transactions across a broad range of industries. She was part of the firm's European private equity practice, advising mid- and large-cap private equity firms.
Drawing on her experience working closely with finance and private equity teams across industries, Elise believes that a scalable, data-driven, and efficient finance function is a key enabler of a firm’s long-term growth ambitions.
Elise holds a Master’s degree in Business Engineering from Ghent University, with a specialisation in finance.

Lara Billiet
Lara ensures the daily operations at Maxus run smoothly, supporting the team and their broad ambitions. She brings a multidisciplinary background and a strong sense of organization to her role, creating a productive and welcoming work environment.
Before joining Maxus, Lara earned a Master’s degree in Criminological Sciences at Ghent University and a Master’s in Education & Child Studies with a focus on forensic family pedagogy from Leiden University. Her academic journey reflects a deep interest in people, systems and structure and she now applies these qualities in the fast-paced, entrepreneurial setting of Maxus.
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We look forward to exploring how we can maximize tomorrow today, together.














