Brown Robert

Robert Brown

CEO | Managing Director | GP-Director
Chicago Mergers & Acquisitions +1 (312) 580-8340
My goal is to inspire and motivate our people to make a true impact with their clients, their colleagues and their communities.

As Lincoln’s Chief Executive Officer and a key driver of the firm’s growth from its beginnings, Rob has been instrumental in building its global footprint and a highly desirable culture that prioritizes attracting, retaining and engaging top talent at all levels. As a connected leader within the firm, Rob works closely with Lincoln’s investment banking professionals to help them achieve success. He continues to focus on building long-term relationships with clients and prospects, achieving optimal results through his thoughtful, interpersonal and collaborative approach.

Rob has nearly 30 years of experience advising leading private equity groups, privately owned businesses and large public companies on divestitures, acquisitions and other strategic initiatives. Rob helped start Lincoln’s industrials and consumer practices and led the firm’s business services practice for more than a decade. Accordingly, Rob has a deep understanding of how to best position companies for sale, drive competitive processes and negotiate to successful closings.

As a recognized advisor and thought leader in the investment banking industry, Rob is a frequent guest on WBBM’s Noon Business Hour in Chicago and a speaker and author on mergers and acquisitions-related topics. Rob sits on the board of UNICEF USA and the Dean’s Business Council for the Gies School of Business at the University of Illinois. He is also President of the Board of Regents at Saint Ignatius College Prep in Chicago.

Prior to Lincoln, Rob worked at Price Waterhouse. His diverse experiences include management positions in Price Waterhouse’s investment banking subsidiary and the Transaction Services group.

Rob earned a Master of Business Administration from Columbia University Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Illinois. Rob is a certified public accountant (inactive).

Perspectives featuring Robert Brown

Midterm Elections Are Imminent, But Investor Eyes Remain Trained on the Fed and Inflation

The term “uncertainty” has dominated headlines much of this year. Election season exacerbates that sense of uncertainty, leaving investors and company executives to weigh the different scenarios each outcome might… Read More

Even as Possible Recession Looms, Prospects for Private Markets Look Strong

It is no secret that public markets are facing notable volatility. But from where I sit in the trenches of private market dealmaking, the near-term prospects for private equity remain… Read More

Five Ways ESG Will Alter PE-Backed Dealmaking in the Next Five Years

Under the pressure of the global pandemic, the push from shareholder to stakeholder capitalism crystalized. Company scrutiny came not only from traditional institutional investors like insurers, pensions and endowments —… Read More

Will Private Equity Activity in 2022 be as Robust as 2021?

Private equity (PE) has proven to be both stable and even resilient, despite economic uncertainty, as illustrated during the 2008 global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. During both events,… Read More

Showing 1 – 4 of 13
Load More

News & Media featuring Robert Brown

Lincoln International Announces Managing Director Promotions 2022

Lincoln International, a global investment banking advisory firm, is pleased to announce the promotion of six Directors to Managing Director (MD), effective January 1, 2023. “Each of these individuals contributes… Read More

Chief Executive | Lessons Learned from Public M&A Deals in 2022

Originally published by Chief Executive on October 11, 2022 Rob Brown, CEO of Lincoln International, shares insights from public deals for private companies to consider when pursing mergers and acquisitions… Read More

Crain’s Chicago Business | Talking Money and the Economy with a Top Investment Banker

Originally published by Crain’s Chicago Business on October 10, 2022 Rob Brown, CEO of Lincoln International, offers insights into market trends and the state of the economy. Click here to… Read More

Bloomberg TV | Bloomberg Markets: The Close

Originally published by Bloomberg TV on September 2, 2022. Rob Brown, CEO of Lincoln International, offers perspectives on the state of deal flow as well as recession resilience in private… Read More

Showing 1 – 4 of 26
Load More

Meet our Senior Team

Firm details on FINRA’s BrokerCheck