Eric Joost Ernst

Eric-Joost Ernst is an Amsterdam-based member of the Bencis team. Bencis says he joined the firm in 2010 after spending 10 years at Candover, a UK private equity fund, and after working for several years in management consulting at Arthur D. Little.

He studied Electrical Engineering at Delft University of Technology and is a graduate of INSEAD’s MBA programme. His Bencis profile says he focuses on helping entrepreneurial management teams develop, professionalise, and expand the companies in which Bencis invests.

Bencis itself is an independent investment company founded in 1999 by Zoran van Gessel and Jeroen Pit. The firm invests from offices in Amsterdam, Brussels/Diegem, and Düsseldorf, and as of its About page reported 33 businesses in its portfolio with about €2.5 billion of combined turnover.

• Bencis looks for “committed entrepreneurship” and backs founders, entrepreneurs, and management teams seeking further growth.
• The firm prefers established businesses rather than seed-stage startups, with stated preference for companies with operating result up to €50 million.
• Bencis’ stated sector experience includes Industry & Manufacturing, Food & Beverages, Business & Consumer Services, Healthcare & Leisure, and Wholesale & Retail; its investment page also lists Technology & Media.
• Eric-Joost’s own profile emphasizes management-team development, professionalization, expansion, transparency, and mutual trust as drivers of success.
• Bencis VII, closed in October 2025 at €625 million, is intended to support mid-market companies in Benelux and DACH with strategic guidance, operational expertise, and capital for growth.