Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Tom Gores founded Platinum Equity in 1995 and has since grown the firm from a standing start to having acquired over $27.5 billion in aggregate annual revenue across a diversified portfolio of companies. Tom’s guidance, core philosophies, and strong principles drive the strategic development and direction of both Platinum and its portfolio.
Read more...
“The ability to move on multiple fronts concurrently has been one of the single biggest factors to our success.”
Chief Financial Officer
Mary Ann Sigler joined Platinum Equity in 2004 and is responsible for overall accounting, tax, and financial reporting as well as managing strategic planning projects for the firm. Twenty-five years as a public accountant working on major transactions with Ernst & Young established a knowledge base that she applies to her work at Platinum. While her leadership of Platinum’s finances may have branded her as fiscally conservative, it’s because she views every dollar spent as her own.
Read more...
“Platinum, as a general rule, runs its portfolio on a fiscally conservative philosophy.”
Partner
David Anglin is responsible for the vision, implementation, and
management of Platinum’s technology activities and oversees the
M&A Technology group. He has a comprehensive background in
technology, software development, and design, and held several senior
level positions in management and engineering before joining the firm
in 1996. As one of the senior partners, David represents the passion
and expertise that have been critical to Platinum’s success.
Read more...
“Ultimately, you’re using technology to enable business operations, whether or not it’s the core competency of the company.”
Partner
Rob Archambault oversees Platinum’s M&A Operations group and evaluates prospective acquisitions. He also works closely with the executive management of nearly all acquired companies to set strategy, budget, and transition plans. Rob held various senior management positions before joining Platinum in 1997 as part of the Pilot Software acquisition. He is a key leader for both external and internal strategies at Platinum, and his expertise has helped him step into multiple interim CEO roles over the years.
Read more...
“An acquisition can be disheartening when you’re in the trenches. With Platinum, you’re working together to make changes.”
Partner
John Diggins is responsible for leading business development efforts at Platinum, as well as growing the revenue base of Platinum’s operating companies and identifying opportunities for them to build market advantages. Prior to joining Platinum in 1996, John was CEO for both Pilot Software and Foresight Software, which were acquired by Platinum, and was also a co-founder of Ventec Systems with Tom Gores. With so many years of leadership at the firm, John embodies the sense of family that truly differentiates Platinum.
Read more...
“Today, we’re, really broadening the reach of our organization to affect a lot of different disciplines and organizations.”
Partner
Robert Joubran is responsible for guiding the strategy and growth of a key group of Platinum portfolio companies. Before joining the firm in 1996, he was Vice President of Sales for Banyan Systems. Rob has been at Platinum since its beginning, and he understands the sense of family that makes Platinum’s culture unique.
Read more...
“When it comes to our portfolio, we’re operators--we understand operations and how businesses are run.”
Partner, General Counsel and Secretary
Eva Kalawski has been with Platinum since 1997, when the employee count was less than twenty and acquired portfolio revenue barely exceeded $100 million. Today, she oversees Platinum’s in-house legal staff and is responsible for addressing legal issues relating to diligence, M&A, and transitions, as well as the the legal affairs of its portfolio companies. The breadth of her past employment in insurance, banking, and international business gave her the experience necessary for the diverse legal needs of the firm, but it’s the constant learning and relationships forged over the course of a deal that keep her job interesting.
Read more...
“The beauty of Platinum is that we keep growing. We keep doing larger, more sophisticated deals.”
Partner
Jacob Kotzubei leads a team of professionals through the entire acquisition execution process, directs selected divestiture activities, is a board member of many of Platinum’s portfolio companies, is a member of the Platinum Investment Committee, and shares responsibility for managing limited partner relationships. A former M&A attorney with Sullivan & Cromwell and VP of the High Tech Group at Goldman Sachs, Jacob brings a wealth of experience to every Platinum deal and is a mentor to many of the firm’s junior executives.
Read more...
“Platinum has become more sophisticated in the context of financial capital structures and possibilities for investing in a business.”
Partner
Johnny O. Lopez is a founding partner of Platinum Equity and remains instrumental to the firm’s ongoing evolution. He is a member of Platinum’s five-person Investment Committee, continues to actively pursue significant M&A transactions across multiple industries, mentors transaction teams, and is increasingly involved in the firm’s business development efforts. Mr. Lopez is also a lead sponsor of Platinum’s investment in public securities for control.
Read more...
“Platinum has closely aligned operational and M&A strategies to grow our portfolio.”
Partner
Phil Norment is responsible for all aspects of business strategy and operations for Platinum’s portfolio companies. He also manages evaluation and integration of acquisitions, and is a member of Platinum’s five-person Investment Committee. He admits he has been around Platinum a long time, but still finds his role as compelling as when he first joined the firm in 1997.
Read more...
“I love the deals that have a lot of complexity around them – to me, that’s fascinating, that’s challenging.”
Partner
Brian Wall is the Partner responsible for Platinum’s European business development and M&A activities. He also oversees Platinum’s lower middle-market transactions and is an advisory board member on several portfolio companies. Before joining the firm in 2000, he was an Officer in the United States Air Force. With extensive deal experience across multiple markets, Brian provides senior leadership for Platinum’s international and domestic strategies.
Read more...
“When you run a deal, you need to pay attention to the details. You need to manage your time and to lead the team.”
Partner
Robert Wentworth participates in senior level M&A activities for Platinum Equity. Prior to joining Platinum in 1996, he was President and CEO of Alden Electronics, and was a CPA for 14 years with Ernst & Young. Bob has been a part of the firm’s growth for 14 years, and his operational and financial insights are an essential component of every Platinum transaction.
Read more...
“At any point in the transaction timeline, we’re having a well-rounded discussion about risk and opportunity.”
Principal
Mark Barnhill manages functions connected to capital raising, fund administration, and corporate and external affairs for Platinum. He also is the senior relationship manager with Platinum’s investors. Before joining the firm, Mark was a Senior Partner at Fleishman-Hillard Inc., where he directed the firm’s corporate practice in Los Angeles and managed both domestic and international accounts. Beyond his extensive experience, Mark possesses a natural ability to convey strong, transparent communications, which makes him an ideal external affairs executive.
Read more...
“We work to connect in a meaningful way and are very adept at building relationships founded on open, productive dialogue.”
Principal
Roger House joined Platinum Equity in 1997 and was responsible for many of the firms early business development efforts. His expertise has shifted more recently to focus on diversifying Platinum’s portfolio into the real estate sector. Before joining the firm, he was an executive in high-end office products. With over 30 years of sales and management experience, Roger is a self-starter who has felt at home with Platinum’s fast pace since its early days.
Read more...
“People are empowered here. You have the ability to make a decision, but you’ve got to be accountable for it. That’s the great thing.”
Principal
Bryan Kelln joined Platinum Equity in 2007 and is responsible for executing strategic operational programs across the entire portfolio. A veteran of the private equity industry, Bryan has held a variety of senior executive positions and possesses a unique combination of financial, management, M&A, and operational expertise. He is the leader-in-the-trenches, from due diligence to day-to-day portfolio company management-–and his love for the intensity and pace of the work helps him fit in perfectly at Platinum.
Read more...
“Our portfolio companies are quite interesting and exciting because of the results we’ve been able to create.”
Principal
Louis Samson oversees all financial, operating, technical and legal aspects of M&A transactions executed by his team. His responsibilities include valuation, due diligence, transaction structuring, contract negotiation and financing.
Read more...
“We have a long history of creating value by helping established companies navigate difficult market transitions”
Principal
Since 2000, Bob Wymbs has managed strategic divestiture opportunities for Platinum. He works with the firm’s portfolio management, business development, and strategic planning groups to execute transactions and examine potential exits. Before Platinum, Bob held executive positions at the Los Angeles Dodgers and at McKinsey & Company. He’s equally comfortable on the buy- or sell-side of the business, but it’s the process of the transaction that keeps him engaged and where he excels.
Read more...
“We’re all relationship managers at some level, working with investment bankers, corporations, and the businesses we develop.”
Principal
Matt Young joined Platinum Equity in 2001 and oversees financial, operating, technical, and legal aspects of Platinum transactions. His responsibilities include management presentations, valuations, due diligence, and negotiating definitive purchase and ancillary agreements. With a background in technology investment banking and the United States Air Force, Matt has a unique ability to balance thorough processes with a creative, unconventional approach.
Read more...
“we are constantly receptive to creativity. We try different things, and we don’t let something get in the way and stop progress.”
Principal
Steve Zollo is a senior member of Platinum’s M&A Operations team and is responsible for the Corporate IT function and Group Purchasing Program. Steve originally joined the firm in 1999 as President of OnPoint, a Platinum portfolio company, and then rejoined in 2003 after serving as Vice President of Operations and Technology at Call_Solutions.com. With more than 30 years of technology-enabled customer service experience with public and privately held companies, Steve is an integral contributor to Platinum’s strategy.
Read more...
“When we started to acquire companies under the fund, the size and complexity of our deals continued to grow.”