Brent Engelbrekt
Managing Director
Brent Engelbrekt is a Managing Director at True North Mergers & Acquisitions and a seasoned sell‑side advisor with deep experience guiding privately held companies through complex transactions. With nearly a decade at the firm and a background as a former business owner, Brent brings a rare combination of firsthand entrepreneurial insight and institutional M&A expertise. His early career included leading several successful business and real estate transactions as a principal, giving him a practical understanding of the financial, operational, and emotional dynamics that shape an owner’s decision to sell.
Brent’s advisory work is concentrated in the industrial services, manufacturing, and distribution sectors—industries where operational complexity, customer concentration, and margin discipline play an outsized role in valuation. He is known for his ability to position companies in these segments for competitive processes, articulate their value drivers, and manage sophisticated buyer interactions. His understanding of how private equity groups, strategic consolidators, and seasoned corporate buyers evaluate opportunities allows him to anticipate motivations, streamline diligence, and guide both sides toward a transaction that is strategically and financially aligned.
Brent has been recognized repeatedly for excellence in advisory performance. He was named True North’s Advisor of the Year in 2024 and has played a central role in several of the firm’s largest and most complex engagements, including transactions exceeding $100 million. His ability to operate effectively in high‑stakes environments—where buyers are selective, expectations are elevated, and execution risk is high—has contributed to a strong and consistent track record.
A committed lifelong learner, Brent has earned many of the M&A industry’s most respected credentials. He holds the Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) and M&A Master Intermediary (M&AMI) designations through the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA) and M&A Source. He also earned the Certified M&A Professional (CM&AP) designation from the Coles College M&A Academy at Kennesaw State University and the Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) credential through the Exit Planning Institute. Among a field of more than 500 advisors, Brent was named CBI of the Year in both 2021 and 2024, and he has received multiple IBBA/M&A Source Platinum Chairman’s Circle Awards for top‑tier production.
Brent holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Minnesota State University, Mankato, with concentrations in Marketing and Finance and a minor in Economics. His academic foundation, combined with his operational experience and advanced professional training, enables him to bring a balanced, analytical, and practical approach to every engagement.
Brent’s work is defined by clarity, integrity, and a commitment to client advocacy. Whether advising an industrial services contractor preparing for succession, a manufacturer evaluating strategic options, or a distributor entering a competitive auction process, he is known for his steady leadership, thoughtful communication, and ability to drive transactions to successful outcomes.
