- Argos Wityu member since 2022
- Speaks French, English
- HEC Paris, Master in Management (MiM), Master of Managerial & Financial Economics
- ENSAE Paris, Master of Science (MS) : Statistics & Financial Engineering
- Argos Wityu member since 2022
- Speaks French, English
- HEC Paris, Master in Management (MiM), Master of Managerial & Financial Economics
- ENSAE Paris, Master of Science (MS) : Statistics & Financial Engineering
Can you introduce yourself in a few words? Your age, your family situation and the country you live in?
Arthur
My name is Arthur Quignon, and I am 25 years old. I come from Angers, an charming city in western France, home to some of the world’s greatest wines and cheeses. I have been living in Paris for several years now, but always enjoy spending a weekend in my hometown.
What path led you to Argos and the position you hold today?
Arthur
I first got to know Argos on a finance course when I was a student at HEC Paris. Louis (our President at Argos) and some other Argos alumni were guest speakers. They introduced Argos’s investment strategy and values, which felt very different from other investment funds that pitched their scope during the same course. And now that I have seen Argos from the inside, I can tell you that I was not mistaken! After this first contact, I got in touch with some Argos team members whom I had just met and had the opportunity to intern with the DACH investment team at the Frankfurt office. It was my first experience in finance, and it turned out to be a really enlightening one. After a gap year of interning for 6 months in M&A and 6 months in private equity, I decided to reconnect with my initial professional interests and joined Argos as an Analyst in July 2022.
Is this the path you thought you would take when you started your studies?
Arthur
When I was admitted to HEC Paris after two years of intensive classe préparatoire, my wish was to make a contribution to building a world based on sustainable development. I did not yet know how I would be able to make the most of my skillset in this regard. Now, a few years later, even though I would have never imagined I would be working for a private equity fund, I feel that in a sense I have fulfilled that objective: I feel grateful and proud to work in part for Argos Climate Action and to contribute to the decarbonization of European SMEs.
The world of private equity has changed a lot in recent years. What is your definition of PE? How do you see it?
Arthur
I’m not really entitled to give my opinion on this subject inasmuch as Argos was my first full-time position. However, from my experience at Argos, I definitely see PE much more as long-term, growth-enabling support for management than as pure financial engineering via leverage.
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
Arthur
My cat’s mewing. Better than an alarm clock you might say. Only that it can’t be turned off on weekends.
What encounter - or moment - has marked your journey at Argos?
Arthur
Only a few months after joining Argos, I was invited to the winter seminar of Coexya, a portfolio company that I monitor. At first, I was surprised that we investors were invited. But I can now understand why: at Argos, we focus on creating close relationships with the management teams of the companies we invest in. We have a genuine entrepreneurial spirit in this regard, and this felt kind of exceptional for new employees like myself.
To describe yourself further: It is said that we are the average of the people we meet. Who do you think they are and how do they influence you?
Arthur
I am still in the early stages of my professional life. For now, we could say that I have only met the Argos team and the managers of the Argos portfolio companies I support. But make no mistake about it: I have already gained many valuable insights from these encounters. I feel that I have never learned and grown as much as since I joined Argos. The Argos team here is very committed to supporting our portfolio companies, in a way that everybody, new team members like myself included, feels a strong sense of purpose and responsibility, which translates into an irrepressible will to understand more about our work.
In a more general way, is there a person you admire, who inspires you on a daily basis? (e.g. writer, artist, politician, etc.)
Arthur
I admire all people who excel in very different fields at the same time. The immediate example that comes to my mind is Michael Jordan. He epitomizes success in sport, in philanthropy and in business (and most impressively, even in businesses that have nothing to do with sport in the first place). I am particularly impressed and inspired by the success of these people, knowing how difficult it is to juggle work and sport in my personal case.
“I definitely see PE much more as long-term, growth-enabling support for management than as pure financial engineering via leverage.”
How do you balance your professional and personal life?
Arthur
I try not to forget about the people I love. I’m always finding ways to keep in touch with my family and friends. My preferred method is to bring everyone together for weekend getaways in my childhood home in the countryside, where we can all disconnect from our daily routines and be at one with nature.
Outside of your job, what are your passions or commitments?
Arthur
I am passionate about sport and try to practice several times a week. It helps me to keep my body fresh and my mind committed.
Aside from this, I am committed to making my loved ones happy (which includes feeding my cat every morning, if you have been following).
How do you see yourself in 10 years?
Arthur
Owning at least one dog and maybe a horse.
Do you have a place to share with us that reflects you? A place that inspires you and contributes to your balance?
Arthur
If you are on a getaway near Angers, try Le Thoureil, on the banks of the Loire. It should speak for itself. Even better on a summer evening.
In another life, you would be... ?
Arthur
A scuba-diving instructor.
Companies I Support
TECH
Revenues €60 M
FRANCE
Services
Revenues €70 M
FRANCE
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