The Rochelle Park, NJ-based firm The DAK Group, an investment bank specializing in mergers, acquisitions, business sales, and other strategic advisory services for middle market business owners, announced that Derek Zacarias has joined the firm as a director.

“We are extremely excited that Derek has joined The DAK team. He brings a wealth of knowledge along with tremendous deal experiences and expertise,” said Alan Scharfstein, President of The DAK Group. “Our expansion continues, as our clients take advantage of the strong middle market M&A environment.”

Mr. Zacarias will be an integral part of the growing DAK team whose responsibilities will include deal execution of sell side and buy side transactions as well as new client origination. Derek will work closely with business owners and other key stakeholders to help them evaluate opportunities to make better business decisions and guide them during the transaction process to ensure successful outcomes.

Mr. Zacarias brings more than a decade of investment banking experience across a wide array of industries. Most recently he was a director on the Global Industrials team at Perella Weinberg Partners, where he was a founding member of its Chicago office and covered the global automotive industry. Derek started his career in Perella Weinberg Partners’ New York office where he was a part of the Media & Telecom team.

Derek graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business with majors in Finance and International Business.