Negrițoiu & Partners (MNP) is a multidisciplinary think-tank and management consulting firm headquartered in Romania (Bucharest), with deep roots and connections to Romania and United States. We differentiate ourselves from other consulting firms by performing vertically integrated market analysis and by publishing, in the open, market research and editorial opinions at negritoiu.ro.
A typical feasibility study takes into consideration only the existing market and vendor landscape. A vertically integrated market analysis identifies where the largest costs and technology blockers are, such that, if addressed, they would decrease the cost structure and/or implementation timeline by an order of magnitude.
The firm then advises clients and entrepreneurs on where to spin-up startup investments that address those pain-points which create an outsized market opportunity. Where possible market research is “open sourced” by sharing publicly under Creative Common license. The firm draws from a talent pool of expats and emigrants with bi-continental experience, for example graduates of Tudor Vianu High School and Politehnica University who emigrated to the United States over the last 30 years and still hold ties with Romania.
About Misu Negritoiu
After a 17-year career at ING Bank Romania (1997 – 2014), six of which as General Manager, I took on a new challenge: the rebuilding of ASF – the Financial Supervision Authority of Romania (similar to SEC in the U.S.), a public institution that combines regulatory bodies for insurance, capital markets, and pensions. I led ASF through a variety of reforms from 2014 through 2017. I am currently running a boutique M&A consulting practice and hold Board positions in local financial institutions.
I was born in Dăbuleni, where those great watermelons grow! I graduated from the Foreign Trade Section within the Academy of Economic Studies of Bucharest and then from the Law School within the University of Bucharest. I obtained my PhD degree in Economic Sciences at the Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, and the thesis I presented was entitled “Foreign Investment and the Transition to the Market Economy” (which I also published the following year under the title “A Leap Forward”; it is worth reading, because it’s still current). I was also awarded the academic degree of Honorary Doctor of Science by the University of Hertdforshire (England).
My political activity culminated with being co-opted in the Government in November 1992, as Minister of State (Deputy Prime Minister), President of the Council for Co-ordination, Strategy and Reform. The Nicolae Văcăroiu Government, an institute which, in theory, should have decided on the Cabinet’s government and reform program, in practice, didn’t even have its own budget… A truly interesting experience, with important programs (the “Government Program Strategy”, applicable, to a certain extent, to this day) and “negotiations” with the International Monetary Fund. But I was only able to hold the position for a little over 9 months. I quit the Government further to some differences of opinion with other politicians with regard to the objectives and the speed of adopting the IMF reforms (I was part of a government that was supported by the “red quadrilateral” coalition). It was probably too soon to discuss reform… In fact, even today this topic is in some respects “taboo”.
Starting from 1994, I occupied the position of advisor to the President of Romania (with rank of minister) for economic and reform matters and coordinator of the Consultative Group for economic and social matters to the President of Romania, Ion Iliescu. My political career continued in the Parliament starting from November 1996, when I was elected member of the Chamber of Deputies for Dolj County in the 1996 – 2000 mandate. I was a member of the Commission for Economic Policy, Reform and Privatization. But… I quit the Parliament as well in 1997. As I said on a different occasion, I was overwhelmed by the futility of my role as deputy: in the country, the people who elected me demanded jobs or complained about losing lawsuits, and being a member of the Parliament is very demotivating for an active person…
I gave up my political career for a position in the private sector, with ING Bank. I was probably one of the few examples of state officials who left the public administration to start from scratch a management career in the private sector (at the age of 47!). From 1997 and until present, I advanced, step by step, form a simple Market Transactions Manager to Deputy General Manager and General Manager, the leader of the bank. I contributed to a series of high-profile transactions, but also to the construction of the bank, as it is today.