Abhinav Sharman joined Advent in 2016 and is a Managing Director in London. He is a member of Advent Global Opportunities, Advent’s public equity platform.
Prior to joining Advent Global Opportunities, Abhinav was a member of Advent’s private equity team in the Mumbai office as an Associate from 2011 to 2024.
Before joining Advent, Abhinav was a management consultant with the Boston Consulting Group from 2009 to 2011.
Abhinav received a BTech in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
How has Advent’s culture of collaboration driven impact both internally and at portfolio companies?
I was fortunate enough to grow up in Advent’s private equity arm in Mumbai as the first Associate in the region. A core aspect of Advent’s culture is constructive collaboration, which I witnessed early in my career. At Advent Global Opportunities (AGO), we are aligned with broader Advent themes and sub-sectors across our global exposure.
There are frequent conversations with the Advent network, including our Operating Partners and Operations Advisors. This active knowledge sharing helps inform our engagement with management teams at our portfolio companies.
How have you grown in your career?
When I transitioned from the private to the public markets, I quickly learned to adapt and understand that remaining nimble and staying true to your thesis is essential. When things don’t go as initially anticipated, acceptance is crucial, particularly when facing macro opportunities in the public markets. Don’t be afraid to take risks. At Advent, we support each other even when an investment doesn’t go as planned.
Describe a pivotal experience that has shaped your career?
Being the first Associate in our Indian office was a special experience. Advent was scaling in India, and being a junior team member allowed me to experience all facets of deal-making. It helped shape my generalist framing, while also enabling me to develop expertise across diverse sectors. I had a lot of exposure, which allowed me to adapt to investing across the five core sectors we specialize in.
“Investing in public markets is an endless puzzle, but you learn about new businesses and get fired up when you meet management teams. No two days are the same, and the people make it interesting.”
Abhinav Sharman
Managing Director, Advent
What about your job inspires and drives you?
Investing in public markets is an endless puzzle, but you learn about new businesses and get fired up when you meet management teams. No two days are the same, and the people make it interesting. Collaborating with smart people across such a vast network makes Advent special.
Who would you change places with for a day?
I would trade places with Christopher Nolan, the film director. I’m a fan of cinema. I admire Nolan’s ability to create challenging cinematic pieces that often involve complex structures, meticulous planning, and navigating a large budget, all while producing intriguing movies. I would love to experience what his world is like. He’s not just a creative person; he can execute at scale, similar to what we do at Advent.
