David Ansel
Partner
Loeb & Loeb

David Ansel, Partner and Co-Chair of Loeb & Loeb LLP’s New York Corporate Department, focuses his practice on middle-market private equity transactions, including the representation of equity sponsor groups and mezzanine lenders. His practice includes mergers and acquisitions; fund formation and portfolio investments; corporate finance; and general corporate matters.

Practice Areas

• Private Equity
• Mergers and Acquisitions
• Corporate and Securities
• Fashion and Luxury Brands

Affiliations

• Member, Association of the Bar of the City of New York; Former Member, Subcommittee on Environmental Law (1996–1999)

Distinctions

• Guest Lecturer, Mergers and Acquisitions, University of Wisconsin Law School

Education

University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D., 1993
Senior Articles Editor, Wisconsin Environmental Law Journal

Boston University, B.A., 1990

Bar Admissions

New York, 1994

 

Les Berglass
Chairman
Berglass + Associates

In the early 1980s, Les recognized that distribution channels were changing.  He saw the walls between wholesale and retail dissolving.  Wholesalers had to redefine themselves because vertical retailers were on their way to revolutionizing the way consumers buy product.  Recognizing this change, he left the world of consumer goods marketing and opened Berglass+Associates.  He directed the firm’s energy towards finding executives who can work in an environment that is constantly changing – executives sensitive to verticalization, the power of brand, e-commerce and globalization. Les knew that contemporary talent would be in short supply.  He dedicated his company to filling that void.

More than ten years ago, when the private equity world started to express greater interest in retailing, fashion and other segments of the consumer goods industry, Les was one of the first leaders of a search firm to react.  He’s honed the firm’s ability to identify leadership that understands and supports a private equity firm’s definition of management responsibility. Les has created an executive search firm that houses a recruiting team that is committed to understanding their client’s needs before making hiring recommendations.  Under Les’ leadership, Berglass+Associates has become one of the most effective and well-respected search firms in the consumer goods space today.

 

Paul Beswick
North American Retail Practice Leader
Oliver Wyman

Paul Beswick is the leader of Oliver Wyman’s North American Retail Practice.  He works with large retailers in both North America and Europe.

Paul and his team help retailers to drive better financial performance by improving their internal capabilities to manage the core levers of the business better. By helping his clients make better decisions across all of these core levers, he has helped deliver hundreds of basis points of profit improvement.

Recently, Paul and his team helped develop and implement a multi-year repositioning of a large US retailer's go-to-market strategy resulting in sector-leading ID sales. The transformation involved a very large investment in lower prices, funded by better management of pricing, promotions, assortment, operational efficiency, format strategy, and vendor terms. Paul holds an M.A (1st class) in Chemical Engineering from Cambridge University.

 

David Blumberg
Head of Strategic Development
Iconix

David Blumberg is Head of Strategic Development for Iconix Brand Group. He joined the Company in November 2006 as a consultant overseeing the Company’s mergers and acquisitions activities and started his present position in January 2009. Prior to joining the Iconix Brand Group, Mr. Blumberg was a full time consultant during 2005 through November 2006 to LF(1937) Management Ltd., providing advice regarding its related companies’ North American mergers and acquisitions, including those by Li & Fung Limited/ LF USA- the world’s largest trading company focused on global supply chain management. Prior to joining Li & Fung, among other positions Mr. Blumberg from 1996-1999 was President of the Broker – Dealer, Managing Director in its investment banking group and the first employee of Wit Capital, Inc. the world’s first online investment bank, and from 1981-1993 a Managing Director and Senior Vice President of Merrill Lynch Interfunding Inc. and Merrill Lynch Capital Markets- Investment Bank, respectively. Mr Blumberg received a Bachelor of Science, cum laude Economics from Colgate University in 1981 and a MBA Corporate Finance from New York University in 1987. Mr Blumberg is the father of three sons, married and living in Greenwich CT.

 

Dan Bonoff 
Partner
Goode Partners

Prior to joining Goode Partners, Mr. Bonoff was a Managing Director in the Private Equity/Special Situations group at Angelo Gordon. During his 12 year private equity career, Mr. Bonoff has participated in investments in 15 portfolio companies and five add-on acquisitions totaling more than $500 million of invested equity capital.

At Angelo Gordon, Mr. Bonoff was responsible for identifying potential investment opportunities, structuring and executing new transactions and monitoring certain of the firm's investments. Mr. Bonoff led the firm’s private equity investing efforts in the retail, restaurant, healthcare and building products sectors. Mr. Bonoff also co-led the group’s program of marketing to deal sources and intermediaries.

Prior to joining Angelo Gordon, Mr. Bonoff was a Principal in the Consumer/Retail group at Apax Partners. Mr. Bonoff joined Apax in 2005 as a result of a merger with Saunders Karp & Megrue, where Mr. Bonoff had worked as an investment professional since 2000. While at Saunders Karp & Megrue, Mr. Bonoff focused primarily on investments in the retail, restaurant and consumer products sectors.

Prior to joining SKM, Mr. Bonoff was an investment professional at Patricof & Co. Ventures, where he focused on making early and later stage investments in the consumer and healthcare sectors. Mr. Bonoff began his career at Wasserstein Perella & Co. in the Food and Consumer Products group.

Mr. Bonoff has sat on the boards of directors of Accessory Network Group, Adrenaline Family Entertainment, Comark Inc., Drive America Holdings, Elephant Bar Restaurants, Giftware Holdings, National Home Healthcare, Inc., Souper Salad and Voyager Hospicecare. In addition, Mr. Bonoff has been a board observer for Charlotte Russe Holding and Tommy Hilfiger. Mr. Bonoff also sits on the board of directors of Independence Care Systems, a not-for-profit healthcare organization.

Mr. Bonoff received a Bachelor of Arts from Wesleyan University and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

 

Matthew Boyle
Reporter
Bloomberg News

Matthew Boyle is a reporter on the U.S. Consumer team at Bloomberg News, where he covers retail and consumer product companies. He joined Bloomberg in December 2009 after spending just over a year at BusinessWeek, where he covered company news and management trends. Previously, he was a writer at Fortune for eight years, covering a wide range of business topics. Boyle graduated from Princeton University in 1997 with a degree in American History and lives in Riverdale, NY.

 

Diane Brady
Senior Editor/Content Chief
Bloomberg BusinessWeek

As Senior Editor and Content Chief, Brady has led corporate and management coverage since June 2008. Previously, she was a senior writer and bureau chief, winning numerous industry awards for her stories. Before that, she worked at The Wall Street Journal in Asia, Canada’sMaclean's and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi, Kenya. She’s a frequent guest on CNN, NPR and other broadcast outlets, and is on the board of the Overseas Press Club. She’s a graduate of University of Toronto, and holds graduate degrees from Columbia University and the University of Nairobi. Her book, Fraternity (Speigel & Grau), goes on sale in 2010.

 

Mindy Grossman
Chief Executive Officer
HSN, Inc.

A 32-year veteran of the retail and apparel industries, Mindy Grossman is Chief Executive Officer of HSN, Inc. (HSNi, formerly IAC Retailing) and a member of the Company’s Board of Directors.  In this capacity, Ms. Grossman oversees a $2.8 billion dollar retail portfolio which includes: HSN, a leading interactive lifestyle network and retail destination that offers a curated assortment of exclusive products combined with top brand names; HSN.com, a top 10 trafficked e-commerce site that offers a differentiated e-commerce experience by leveraging content, community and commerce; and Cornerstone Brands, a dynamic, multi-channel retailer of lifestyle brands including Ballard Designs, Frontgate, Garnet Hill, Grandin Road, Improvements, Smith+Noble, Territory Ahead and Travelsmith.  Prior to taking the company public, Ms. Grossman had been Chief Executive Officer of IAC Retailing since May 2006.

Ms. Grossman joined IAC from Nike, Inc., where she served as Global Vice-President and head of Nike’s $4 billion apparel business from 2000 to 2006.  In addition, she was responsible for the development and growth of Nike’s global women’s business and served as Co-chair of its Women’s Leadership Council.

Prior to Nike, Ms. Grossman served as President and CEO of Polo Jeans Company from 1995 to 2000.  She was Vice-President of New Business Development at Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation from 1994 to 1995 and President of Chaps Ralph Lauren and Senior Vice-President of Menswear for Warnaco, Inc. from 1991 to 1994.  She has also held senior positions at Tommy Hilfiger and Oxford Industries and began her career in 1977 in the menswear industry.

In 2009, Ms. Grossman was ranked one of the world’s 100 most powerful women by Forbes magazine and serves on the Board of Directors of the National Retail Federation, as well as the East Harlem School at Exodus House in New York.  She is the Chairperson of the Fashion Institute of Technology’s Executive Women in Fashion Advisory Board, and is also a member of the Advisory Board of the J. Baker School of Retail at the Wharton School of Business.

 

Nanette C. Heide
Partner
Duane Morris LLP

Nanette C. Heide practices in the area of corporate law. Ms. Heide represents investment banks, venture capital investors, multinational corporations (public and private) and start-up companies in a wide spectrum of corporate finance transactions, including institutional private placements, private equity and venture capital investments, cross-border transactions, debt and equity structuring transactions, mergers and acquisitions, reverse mergers, joint ventures and strategic alliances, exchange offers and recapitalizations. She serves as outside counsel for many mid-sized companies on issues of corporate governance, securities law compliance, general commercial transactions, disclosure issues, financings and mergers and acquisitions. She also advises companies in the formation of private investment funds and represents institutional investors in private investment funds. Her clients represent a wide variety of industries from pharmaceutical and medical technology to communications, media and Internet-based businesses, both domestic and multinational.

Ms. Heide is a 1990 graduate of Washington and Lee University School of Law, where she was editor in chief of Washington and Lee Law News, and a graduate of West Virginia University.

Areas Of Practice

• Corporate Law
• Corporate Finance
• Mergers and Acquisitions

Professional Activities

• Association for Corporate Growth New York Chapter
  - Committee for Women's Programs 2008-2009

Admissions

• New York
• U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York
• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia

Education

• Washington and Lee University School of Law, J.D., 1990 - Editor in Chief, Washington and Lee Law News, 1989-1990 - Class President, 1988-1990
• West Virginia University, B.S., 1987
• West Virginia University, B.A., 1986

Experience

• Duane Morris LLP
  - Partner, 2009-present
• Seyfarth Shaw LLP
  - Partner, 2006-2009
• K&L Gates LLP
  - Senior Corporate Associate, 2001-2006
• Tribute International Corp. d/b/a VideoSnap
  - General Counsel and Chief Financial Officer, 2000-2001
• Galaxy Systems, Inc.
  - General Counsel and Chief Financial Officer, 1997-2000
• Brown Raysman Millstein Felder & Steiner LLP
  - Associate, 1993-1997
• Spilman Thomas & Battle
  - Associate, 1990-1993

Civic and Charitable Activities

• The New York Junior League
  - Treasurer, 2008-2009
  - Member of the Audit Committee, 2007-2008

Honors and Awards

• Strathmore's Who's Who, 2008

Selected Publications

• Co-Author, "Financial Statement Requirements Relating to a Merger Between a Private Operating Company and a Public Shell Company," Corporate Finance Review, November/December 2007. To be republished in Reverse Mergers: Issues and Perspectives, Icfai University Press

Selected Speaking Engagements

• Presenter, "Sarbanes-Oxley and Director's Fiduciary Duties," Boardroom Bound - Board Pipeline Seminar, San Francisco, January 2008; St. Louis, March 2008; Chicago, May 2008; Washington, D.C., June 2008; New York, September 2008
• Panelist, "SPAC Offerings, Reverse Mergers and PIPE Financings - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," American Bar Association Section of Business Law, Annual Meeting, New York, 2008
• Panelist, "Navigating the Corporate Governance, Compliance and Regulatory Maze," Alternative Public Strategies Conference, New York, 2008
• Panelist, "Strategic vs. Financial Buyers: How Do the Risk Factors in Due Diligence Change?" ACG 4th Annual Due Diligence Symposium, Iselin, New Jersey, 2008
• Panelist, "International Due Diligence," ACG 5th Annual Tri-State Conference, New York, 2008
• Panelist, "What You Don't Know Can Hurt You . . . 415, 144 and You," Belmont Capital Partners Webinar, 2007
• Panelist, "Reverse Mergers: Latest Developments," DealLawyers.com Webcast, 2007
• Panelist, "Compliance and Regulatory Issues," Alternative Public Strategies Conference, Washington, D.C., 2007

 

Kayvan Heravi
Principal
LNK Partners

Kayvan has been with LNK since the firm's inception. Prior to joining LNK, Kayvan was part of the consumer and retail team at Apax Partners that focused on growth capital, buyout and recapitalization investments in companies such as Spyder Active Sports, Phillips-Van Heusen, Life Time Fitness and Performance Bicycle. Kayvan began his career at Montgomery Securities, where he also focused on capital raising and mergers and acquisitions for retail and consumer growth companies. Kayvan currently serves as a board observer for Ariat and was previously a board observer for Spyder Active Sports.

Kayvan holds a BS in international economics from Georgetown University, from which he graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. He also earned an MBA degree with high distinction from Harvard Business School, where he was a Baker Scholar.

 

Sandra Horbach
Managing Director, U.S. Buyout, Consumer and Retail
The Carlyle Group

Sandra Horbach is a Managing Director at The Carlyle Group focused on U.S. buyout investment opportunities in the consumer and retail industries.  She serves as head of the Global Consumer and Retail team.  Carlyle is a global private equity investment firm with approximately $90 billion under management. Since joining Carlyle in 2005, Ms. Horbach has been actively involved in the firm’s investments in Dunkin’ Brands, Oriental Trading Company, Philosophy, and CVC Brasil Operadora e Agência de Viagens S.A., including serving as a Board member for each company.

Ms. Horbach serves as a member of the Executive Committee & Board of Trustees at Rockefeller University, Chair of the Investment Committee at Rockefeller University, a member of the Stanford Business School Advisory Council and serves on the Board of Trustees of The Chapin School in New York. Prior to joining Carlyle, Ms. Horbach spent 18 years at Forstmann Little, a private investment firm.  She also spent two years in the mergers and acquisition department of Morgan Stanley.

She received her MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Arts from Wellesley College, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa.

 

John Howard
Chief Executive Officer
Irving Place Capital

John D. Howard is CEO of Irving Place Capital, formerly known as Bear Stearns Merchant Banking (“BSMB”). Mr. Howard founded the firm in 1997. Irving Place Capital invests private equity capital for control or substantial minority ownership in middle-market companies and focuses on retail and consumer goods companies as well as financial services companies, but also has made investments and dedicated efforts in other old economy and services sectors, including packaging, energy, healthcare services, industrial and transportation companies. The firm seeks to partner with exceptional management teams and entrepreneurs, and invests in a variety of transaction structures, including management buyouts, growth capital financings, corporate divestitures and industry consolidations, and recapitalizations and other ownership liquidity situations. Irving Place Capital has approximately $4.4 billion in equity under management, and its current $2.7 billion Fund III raised in 2006 has $1.5 billion of equity available for investment. To date, the firm has made 68 investments and has a highly successful track record of investing in retail and consumer companies, including Aeropostale, New York & Company, Seven for All Mankind, Stuart Weitzman, Reddy Ice and The Vitamin Shoppe. In all of these businesses, Irving Place Capital investment and operating professionals have been intimately involved in partnering with management teams to roll-out new stores, identify and integrate acquisitions, and execute other strategic and operational initiatives. Given its substantial branded consumer/retail investing experience, the firm has an in-depth understanding of the issues, opportunities and challenges that companies in these industries face.

Mr. Howard has been a principal in the private equity business for more than 25 years. Prior to founding Irving Place Capital, Mr. Howard was co-CEO of Vestar Capital Partners. From 1985 to 1990, Mr. Howard served as a Senior Vice President and Partner of Wesray Capital Corporation, then one of the foremost private equity sponsors and a pioneer in the leveraged buyout business. He was responsible for Wesray’s investments in ten portfolio companies, including: Simmons Bedding, Wilson Sporting Goods, and Avis.

Mr. Howard is a director of Aeropostale, Multi Packaging Solutions, New York & Company, Stuart Weitzman, Universal Hospital Services and Vitamin Shoppe. Throughout his career, he has served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committees of more than 30 companies. He currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Yale School of Management as well as on the Board of Trustees of Mt. Sinai Hospital.

Mr. Howard holds an MBA from the Yale School of Management and a BA from Trinity College.

 

Jason Kelly
Writer
Bloomberg News

Jason Kelly is a New York-based writer at Bloomberg News primarily focused on the global private-equity industry. He joined Bloomberg in 2002 as a member of the U.S. Technology team, where he covered companies including Intel, Motorola and Texas Instruments. A frequent contributor to Bloomberg Markets magazine and Bloomberg television, he's written about topics from artificial intelligence on Wall Street to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Prior to Bloomberg, Jason was the editor of digitalsouth magazine, an Atlanta-based publication focused on venture capital and start-up technology companies. Jason holds a bachelor's degree in English literature from Georgetown University.

 

John Kenney
Managing Director and Partner
TSG Consumer Partners

John M. Kenney is a Managing Director and Partner of TSG Consumer Partners LLC. Mr. Kenney, who joined TSG in December 2008, oversees the East Coast origination activities for the firm which has its headquarters in San Francisco. Prior to joining TSG, Mr. Kenney had spent 10 years with AEA Investors LLC, a global private equity firm where he had been co-head of AEA’s consumer product and retail investment practice. Among others, he co-led AEA’s acquisition of and served on the boards of Burt’s Bees, the natural personal care products company, which was subsequently sold to Clorox Co., as well as Acosta Sales and Marketing, one of North America's largest sales and marketing agencies serving the foodservice and grocery industries, and Tampico Beverages, the leading brand of refrigerated fruit drinks.

Prior to joining AEA, Mr. Kenney was a Principal at Investcorp International, where as a senior member of its North American Corporate Investment Team he also focused on consumer products and retail investments. Previously, Mr. Kenney was with Lazard Frères’ private equity investment vehicle, Centre Partners, and was also in the investment banking group of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette. He holds a B.S. from Boston College.

 

Peter Lattman
Private Equity Reporter
The Wall Street Journal

Mr. Lattman is reporter for The Wall Street Journal covering the private equity business.  Prior to his current beat, he was a legal affairs reporter for the newspaper and also the founding writer of the WSJ.com's law blog.  Prior to joining the Journal in 2005, he was a reporter for Forbes magazine.  Previously, Mr. Lattman worked at Goldman Sachs & Co. and began his career as a lawyer at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel.  Mr. Lattman received an undergraduate degree from Harvard University and a JD from Fordham University School of Law.

 

Richard Leonard
Managing Director
Angelo, Gordon & Co.

Richard Leonard, Managing Director joined Angelo, Gordon in 2009 as a member of the firm’s private equity and special situations area.  Angelo Gordon has current investments in retail grocery and health clubs, and is actively seeking new investments in these spaces in addition to restaurants, apparel retail and specialty retail.  Before joining Angelo, Gordon, Richard was a Managing Director at Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co. where he focused on leveraged buyout investments in the restaurant, retail, food and manufacturing industries.  Richard began his private equity career at J.W. Childs Associates and was also previously with Audax Group. At these firms, Richard completed leveraged buyout transactions in the restaurant, healthcare and defense electronics industries.  Before working in private equity, Richard was a Financial Analyst and Associate at Dillon, Read & Company, where he focused on large cap mergers and acquisitions in the defense, aerospace, automotive, manufacturing, paper products, real estate and restaurant industries.  Richard holds an A.B. degree from Harvard University.

 

Joshua A. Leuchtenburg
Partner
Ropes & Gray

Joshua A. Leuchtenburg, is a partner in the Corporate Department of Ropes & Gray. Josh's practice focuses on leveraged buyouts and mergers and acquisitions, primarily for private equity funds and their portfolio companies. Josh also regularly represents companies and investors in securities offerings, acquisitions and financings. He has extensive experience in a variety of sectors, including consumer products, healthcare, technology and business services. Representative clients include, Fenway Partners, Easton-Bell Sports, Halpern Denny and Bexil Corporation.

 

Jonathan Lynch
Managing Director
CCMP Capital Advisors, LLC

Jonathan Lynch is a Managing Director in the New York office of CCMP Capital and a member of the firm's Investment Committee. Mr. Lynch is also Head of Investor Relations. He has been responsible for the firm's investments in 1-800-Flowers.com, American Floral Services, ARAMARK Corporation, Centennial Security, Crosstown Traders, Masada Security, Pinnacle Foods Group, Premier Systems, Sentry Security, Quiznos Sub and Vitamin Shoppe Industries. Prior to joining CCMP in 1992, Mr. Lynch was a member of the Mergers and Acquisitions department of Prudential Securities. Mr. Lynch holds a B.S. from Georgetown University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Mr. Lynch is past President of the Venture Investors Association of NY (VIANY) and a member of the Board of Advisors of the Georgetown University School of Business. He currently serves on the board of directors of Avid Health.

 

Christopher J. Marangi
Senior Vice President
Gabelli & Company, Inc.

Mr. Marangi is Associate Portfolio Manager of the Gabelli Value Fund, a $500 million open-ended mutual fund that invests in a concentrated portfolio of securities selling below their private market values.  He also leads Gabelli & Company’s Inc.’s Global Digital Research team and covers the Cable, Satellite & Entertainment areas.

Mr. Marangi has appeared on Bloomberg television and radio numerous times and has been quoted extensively in publications including the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times,Barrons, Newsday, Bloomberg, Variety and Broadcasting & Cable. Mr. Marangi joined GAMCO in 2003 as a research analyst covering companies in the Cable, Satellite and Entertainment sectors.  He began his career as an investment banking analyst with J. P. Morgan & Co and later joined private equity firm Wellspring Capital Management. Mr. Marangi graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a BA in Political Economy from Williams College and holds an MBA with honors from the Columbia Graduate School of Business.  He and his wife have three children.

 

Gary Matthews
Operating Partner/Managing Director
Morgan Stanley

Gary Matthews is a Managing Director of Morgan Stanley, an Operating Partner of the Private Equity Group and is based in New York. Mr. Matthews joined Morgan Stanley in 2007 and has led several private equity backed companies including Simmons Bedding Company, Sleep Innovations, Inc., and Derby Cycle Corporation. Mr. Matthews also led several public company business units such as Worldwide Consumer Medicines for Bristol Myers Squibb, and served as Managing Director UK for Diageo/Guinness Limited and as President and CEO of Guinness Import Company. He also held senior management positions at PepsiCo and McKinsey & Company. Mr. Matthews serves on the Board of Directors for Van Wagner (outdoor advertising) and is Chairman of Tops Markets, LLC. Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, he served on the boards of Molson Coors Brewing Company and Lenox China (previously Department 56). Mr. Matthews holds a B.A., cum laude, from Princeton University and an M.B.A. with Distinction from Harvard Business School.

 

Kevin O'Brien
Managing Director
CCMP Capital Advisors

Kevin O'Brien is a Managing Director of CCMP Capital and a member of the firm’s Investment Committee. Mr. O'Brien focuses on making investments in the consumer, retail, media and healthcare sectors and has been responsible for CCMP's investments in Pinnacle Foods Group, CareMore Medical Enterprises, KRATON Polymers, La Petite Academy, LHP Hospital Group, and National Waterworks. In addition, Mr. O’Brien oversees the execution of debt capital markets transactions undertaken by the firm. Prior to joining CCMP in 2000, Mr. O'Brien worked in the high yield capital markets and banking groups at Chase Securities and Chemical Securities. Previously, he was a member of the Leveraged Finance Group at Bankers Trust. Prior to that, he was a Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Navy. Mr. O'Brien holds a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. O'Brien currently serves on the board of directors of CareMore Medical Enterprises, LHP Hospital Group, KRATON Polymers, Hanley Wood and National Surgical Care.

 

Matthew Rubel
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President
Collective Brands, Inc.

Matt Rubel brought his strategic leadership skills and extensive brand, marketing, merchandising and business knowledge to Payless ShoeSource in June, 2005.  As Chief Executive Officer and President, Matt leveraged the diverse talents of the Payless team to create an inspiring, customer-centric organization with a new position as a specialty retailer dedicated to democratizing fashion in footwear and accessories.

In July, 2007, Matt led the acquisition of the Stride Rite Corporation and the formation of Collective Brands, Inc. (NYSE: PSS), the parent company of Payless ShoeSource, Stride Rite and Collective Licensing International.  Matt was named Chief Executive Officer and President.  In May, 2008, he was elected Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President of Collective Brands, Inc.

In December 2007, Footwear News named Matt its 2007 “Person of the Year” in recognition of his leadership in forming Collective Brands and establishing the company’s vision of creating the pre-eminent, consumer-centric, global footwear, accessories and lifestyle brand company.

Under Matt’s leadership, Collective Brands has evolved into a dynamic and diverse global enterprise, with a strong portfolio of iconic brands reaching consumers across the world through wholesale, retail, e-commerce, licensing and franchising channels.  Matt has built a dynamic team of leaders throughout the Collective Brands organization, and collaboratively they have expanded the global footprint of Payless and Stride Rite brands to more than 83 countries worldwide.

Matt has also received several prestigious honors for his leadership of Payless ShoeSource.  In December, 2006, Payless was named Marketer of the Year by Footwear News.  In March 2007, Payless received a special award for “Brand Reinvention” from Chain Store Age magazine.  In March 2008, Fast Company named Payless among their Fast 50 list of companies on the move.   In May 2007, Payless was named 2007 Retailer of the Year by The American Apparel & Footwear Association.  Matt received the M.B. Zale Visionary Merchant Award from Texas A&M in April 2008.

From 1999 to 2005, Matt was Chairman, President and CEO of Cole Haan, a leading marketer of high quality men’s and women’s shoes and accessories, and subsidiary of Nike, Inc.  At Cole Haan, Matt guided the company into a new era by re-energizing the brand and creating a strong global presence.  During his time with Cole Haan, the company doubled in size and expanded its global foot print, positioning the company as a leading fashion brand.

Matt and his wife, Melissa, reside in Mission Hills, Kansas, with their three sons.  Matt is active in several industry and civic organizations, including the Jay H. Baker Initiative at the Wharton School – University of Pennsylvania; Young President’s Organization; University of Miami Board of Trustees, Florida; Chairman of the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America; Matt is a member of the American Ballet Theater (ABT) Board of Governing Trustees, the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Board of Trustees, and the Board for National Retail Federation (NRF).

 

Kenneth Schwartz
Partner
Ernst & Young Transaction Advisory Services

Ken, a Transaction Advisory Services partner, advises both private equity and corporate acquirers on complex domestic and cross-border mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and recapitalizations. He has over 10 years of merger and acquisition experience across various industries, leading transactions from $10 million to over $20 billion.  His industry experiences retail, consumer products, manufacturing, distribution, media and business services.

Having completed a rotation with Ernst & Young’s On-Call Consulting Practice providing accounting advice to investment banks, law firms and diligence teams, Ken regularly counsels clients on technical accounting matters.  Additionally, he is a frequent speaker on a variety of accounting and due diligence topics. Prior to joining the Transaction Advisory Services, he was with the firm’s Assurance practice focusing on emerging growth clients.

A Certified Public Accountant, Ken graduated from the State University of New York at Albany and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants.

 

Mark J. Schwartz
Former CEO
GB Merchant Partners and Gordon Brothers Group

Mark Schwartz is the former Chief Executive Officer of Gordon Brothers Group, GB Merchant Partners and GB Investment Management Group.  During his tenure at Gordon Brothers from 2002 to 2009 Mr. Schwartz expanded operations in Europe and Japan, diversified the firm’s retail disposition capabilities to include commercial and industrial and developed a diversified asset management business that includes debt and equity funds and a recently established real estate investment group.   Mr. Schwartz has also served as Chief Executive Officer of Palladin Capital Group, Inc., a New York-based merchant banking firm, since 1997.  In addition, Mr. Schwartz served as Chairman and Chief Executive of Nine West Group, Inc., was a member of Rosecliff, Inc., a New York-based buyout firm, most recently as President, and a member of the Investment Banking Division of Merrill Lynch. Mr. Schwartz has acquired and been the Chairman or a director of numerous public and private companies, currently is a member of the boards of Things Remembered, Clair de Lune and Como Fred David, is a trustee of the Institute of Contemporary Art and the Big Apple Circus and is an advisory board member of the Jay H. Baker Retailing Initiative at the Wharton School. Mr. Schwartz earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.