Chairman & CEO
Tom Gores founded Platinum Equity in 1995 and has since grown the firm from a standing start to having acquired over $30 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.
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“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.
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“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.
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“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.
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“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.
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“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.
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“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.
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“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.
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“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.
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“Platinum has closely aligned operational and M&A strategies to grow our portfolio.”
Partner
Phil Norment is a member of Platinum’s five-person Investment Committee and is a senior advisor on specific operational initiatives throughout the portfolio. He is also the senior executive responsible for evaluating acquisition opportunities and integrating new acquisitions into the portfolio. 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.
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“I love the deals that have a lot of complexity around them – to me, that’s fascinating, that’s challenging.”
Partner
Brian Wall leads M&A execution teams in the US and 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-level leadership on many of Platinum’s M&A strategies.
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“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.
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“At any point in the transaction timeline, we’re having a well-rounded discussion about risk and opportunity.”
Principal
With a background in economics, Dave Aroesty joined Platinum Equity to lead its non-core investment strategies in special situations and debt investing. Marshaling all of Platinum’s resources to expand our investment sphere, Mr. Aroesty ensures that each non-core investment still fits within our core competencies.
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““When an opportunity comes up outside of Platinum’s core investment strategy, we’re not going to miss it. If it’s a good deal, we have the resources to get it to the finish line.””
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.
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“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.
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“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 the President of Portfolio Operations and responsible for all aspects of business strategy and operations at Platinum Equity’s portfolio companies. 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 works closely with the firm’s Operations Team as well as with portfolio company executive management, and his love for the intensity and pace of the work helps him fit in perfectly at Platinum.
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Principal
Based in Platinum Equity’s London office, Robert Klap is involved in the firm’s deal origination, capital raising and investor relations activities. He joined the firm in 2011.
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Principal
Based out of the London office, Mr. Lueken is a principal with Platinum Equity and heads up the firm’s European business. He joined the firm in 2011 and brings a wealth of European M&A, equity capital markets, and debt capital markets transaction experience.
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Principal
Louis Samson leads Platinum’s New York-based investment team and manages the operations of the New York office. In his role, Mr. Samson oversees all financial, operating, tax, and legal aspects of M&A transactions executed by his team and in conjunction with the Operations Team provides active oversight of the portfolio companies for which he led the acquisition.
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“We have a long history of creating value by helping established companies navigate difficult market transitions”
Principal
Mike Scott joined Platinum Equity in 2001 and takes responsibility for leading a team that transitions new acquisitions into the portfolio. His experience working with Fortune 50 companies as well as smaller organizations gives him an astute sense of what it takes to run a successful business, and his dedication to working with acquired companies and transitioning them into the Platinum portfolio keeps him on the road upwards of 45 weeks out of the year.
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Principal
Mark Wiesenthal serves as a Principal of Platinum Equity Advisors LLC.
He is a key stakeholder in acquisitions and operations for Platinum’s
hotel platform.
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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.
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“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.
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“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.
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“When we started to acquire companies under the fund, the size and complexity of our deals continued to grow.”