Team | Gracestone Group

Meet the Team

We empower clients to build resilient portfolios that prioritize both profitability and environmental responsibility.

Chairman

John F Kettley

John F. Kettley is a serial entrepreneur, private equity investor, and mergers & acquisitions specialist with more than 35 years of experience building, acquiring, scaling, and exiting businesses across the UK, Ireland, Spain, and the United States. Throughout his career, he has successfully built and sold seven companies, giving him first-hand insight into every stage of the entrepreneurial journey—from startup and growth to succession planning and business exit.

Recognised for his expertise in SME acquisitions, negotiation, and value creation, John has advised business owners, investors, and management teams on structuring transactions that align the interests of buyers and sellers. His practical approach combines strategic thinking with decades of real-world experience, enabling him to identify opportunities, mitigate risks, and successfully guide complex transactions to completion.

Head Of Operations

Marcel Vonarburg

A distinguished business strategist and visionary, Marcel brings an unparalleled depth of expertise to the art of tailoring bespoke exit strategies. With a remarkable career spanning over 45 countries, he has adeptly navigated uncharted professional and personal landscapes, embodying the essence of a seasoned entrepreneur from an early age. His educational foundation, cultivated across six nations, reflects a global perspective that informs his exceptional leadership.

Having ascended the corporate ranks, Marcel has successfully overseen major projects across multiple continents, engaging with diverse stakeholders on multinational boards while maintaining a meticulous focus on engineering details and strategic objectives. His expertise encompasses new builds, greenfield initiatives, startups, growth strategies, turnarounds, and pre- and post-merger integration—domains in which he excels with profound proficiency.

Head Of Finance/Legal

Gregory Lee Vint

Greg has over 30 years of experience in law and finance in the U.S. and Estonia. Hiscorporate experience was gained at ExxonMobil, JP Morgan, and Beal Bank. He was an attorney at the FDIC (US banking regulator) responsible for closing failed banks and drafting banking regulations. In Estonia, he provided legal counsel to Veriff during itsSeries B financing round and Betsson Group in its expansion in the U.S. and Canada.He holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Texas School of Law and a Bachelor’sof Arts with a concentration in Economics from Rice University. Greg is licensed topractice law in the state of Texas (State Bar of Texas license number 20591150) andhas completed level 1 of the Chartered Financial Analyst certification.

Managing Director

Ernest Eric Markovsky

Eric is specializing in Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) and real estate. With a Master's in MBA Finance and dual bachelor's degrees in Business Management & Economics and Construction, he brings a robust academic foundation to his role. As the Head of the EBCA M&A Investment Desk at the European Business Club, he leverages his deep industry expertise to forge strategic business connections and identify growth opportunities for clients. Eric's comprehensive approach and leadership help guide successful investments across diverse sectors.

Our Story

Gracestone & Partners was founded with a clear purpose: to help businesses grow, transition, and thrive for generations to come.

What began as an advisory firm supporting strategic transactions and renewable energy projects has evolved into a European mergers and acquisitions firm focused on acquiring and growing established small and medium-sized businesses. Through our advisory practice, we continue to support clients on complex energy and infrastructure transactions, while our primary focus is identifying exceptional businesses with long-term potential.

We believe that every successful business represents years of dedication, expertise, and entrepreneurial spirit. Our role is to preserve that legacy by providing thoughtful succession solutions, responsible ownership, and the resources needed for continued growth.

Driven by integrity, long-term thinking, and disciplined execution, we build lasting partnerships with business owners, investors, and management teams—creating sustainable value for businesses, employees, and the communities they serve.