Expertise: M&A/PMI
Stephen Blunck
Senior Consultant, Maven Associates

VP, Serent Capital
Associate, Advent International
Senior Associate Consultant, Bain & Company
MBA, Stanford Graduate School of Business
BS, Brigham Young University
Representative Projects
- Developed and implemented procurement and cost reduction initiatives for multi-billion-dollar public retailer
- Designed organizational growth strategy and decision-making framework for charter school network expanding across regions
- Led the merger of two human capital management enterprises to consolidate market share and drive growth synergies
- Created strategy to accelerate company growth for data center company
- Implemented value creation initiatives for at-risk healthcare entity, including leadership build-out, growth strategy, and new geography expansion
- Supported ed-tech company with merger integration, financial operations, capital structure, and tracking against key performance indicators
- Negotiated with lenders to obtain ~$600M in financing to facilitate company recapitalization
- Led due diligence workstreams for multiple potential private equity transactions, with combined enterprise value of ~$6B
Expertise
Industries
- Business Services
- Healthcare
- Financial Services
- Retail
- Education
- Technology & Software
- Human Capital Management
- Pharmaceuticals
Project Types
- Growth Strategy
- M&A Strategy
- Finance
- Profit Improvement
- Organizational Design
- Due Diligence
Representative Clients
Companies
- JCPenney
- Uplift Education
- TalentWave
- Professional Health
- Care Network
- KEV School Solutions
- Data Center Co.
- ATI Physical Therapy
- InVentiv
PE Firms
- Serent Capital
- Advent International

Founder, Corbett Consulting
COO, Array Marketing
Partner, McKinsey & Company
Leader, Wiremold Company
Toyota Motor Company
Manager, CIBC
MSc, Chaminade University
BComm, Carleton University
Representative Projects
- Integration of 3 “bolt on” acquisitions in electrical conduit manufacturing
- Led development of Strategy to consolidate and relocate manufacturing in Mexico reducing labor costs by 80% for an Auto supplier
- Developed and implemented post-acquisition consolidation plan generating over $2MM COGS reduction and multiple real estate opportunities
- Improved product flow in Hydraulic Systems that reduced labor by 15%, inventory by 30% and Leadtime by 50%
- Improved call center operations resulting in 20% reduction in required staff and an improvement in the Net Promotor Score (NPS)
- Created evaluation/audit process to drive continuous improvement across range of businesses that delivered 2 points of EBITDA 3 years in a row
- Optimized retail store operations that reduced store labor reduction of 20%
- Redesigned order sequencing and processing to increase “On Time In Full” by 12 points
Expertise
Industries
- Manufacturing
- Machining
- Aerospace and Defense
- Automotive
- Call Centers
- Hospital Operations
- Retail Operations
- Purchasing
- Supply Chain Optimization
- Mortgage Processing
- Insurance
Project Types
- Operations Optimization
- Due Diligence
- M&A Strategy
- Post Merger Integration
- Organizational Design
- Profit Improvement
Representative Clients
Companies
- Caterpillar
- IBM
- Livingston
- International
- CHS
- Intercos
- Thrivent Financial
- Cobham
- Argyle Investments
- Minute Maid
- Textron
PE Firms
- TorQuest
- Carlyle
- TPG
- Birchill
- Sun Capital
- L Catterton

Advisor, Redstone Road LLC
Executive, Palantir Technologies
Founder, Pure Growth Partners
Principal, Bain & Company
MBA, Wharton School of Business
BA, Economics, Princeton University
Representative Projects
- Transformed of one of America’s leading luxury brands, resulting in 25% profit uplift, 4x EBITDA increase, and 70% reduction in outstanding debt
- Drove digital transformation of portfolio of media brands, driving >$20MM savings by integrating edit teams, developing new digital products, transforming customer acquisition, and eliminating under-performing publications
- Conducted 30 diligences across multiple industries, ranging from 2 weeks <$100MM to multi-month, multi-billion dollar highly complex acquisitions
- Led diligence process for the Singapore Ministry of Finance to select a best-qualified developer to build the world’s largest casino resort
- Led successful bid for large regional payments processing system, including developing proprietary forecasts for evolution of credit and debit markets, and extensive diligence of legacy internal IT systems
- Developed 100-day plan for successful post-merger integration of two, multi-site heavy industrial manufacturers
- Created new opportunity screen for one of the nation’s leading CPG manufacturers
- Created, launched, and marketed celebrity-backed beverage, from initial concept through formulation, testing, and successful distribution in 40k doors
Expertise
Industries
- Media
- Technology
- Luxury
- Consumer Products
- Retail
- Data & Analytics
- Payments
- Financial Services Technology (Fintech)
Project Types
- Growth Strategy
- M&A Strategy
- Marketing
- Business Development
- Organizational Design
- Due Diligence
Representative Clients
Companies
- Meredith Company
- Mack Weldon
- David Webb
- Conde Nast
- Anomaly Corporation
- American Kennel Club
- Dresser-Rand
- Vocativ
- MTV Viacom
- NASDAQ
- SourceMedia
Companies
- Blackstone Group
- Bain Capital
- Advent International
- Warburg Pincus
- Silver Lake

Founder, Miami Strategica LLC
Partner, GoGlobal Advisors
Founder & President, The Engaged Minds Factory
SVP, Sales and Strategy, Jenzabar
Principal, Hamilton Boston LLP
Senior Manager, EY Corporate Finance
Manager, Bain & Company
Engineer, IBM
MBA, INSEAD
MS, Mechanical Engineering, Technical University Munich
Visiting Scientist, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Representative Projects
- Led the post-merger integration of two information services companies with 300 FTEs
- Developed a turn-around strategy for a big box retailer in Chapter 11
- Led the org design and process design for a green field company launched to provide closed-loop payment solution to the U.S. government
- Led the ramp-up of a near-shored Shared Services Center consolidating 20 payment processing operations around the globe for a global energy company
- Led the Agile transformation of a global software company
- Led the post merger integration of the dispersed IT groups of an acquisitive global company into a coherent organization, provided strategic talent management support to lay foundation for a cloud migration
- Built the valuation model for the acquisition of a container manufacturer for a strategic buyer
- Led the development of an operational strategy for an LTL road hauler
- Developed a go-to-market strategy with individual sales goals for the tax division of a Big 4 company with >1000 partners and principals
- Led the post merger integration of a PE sponsored roll-up of 5 ERP software companies
Expertise
Industries
- Consumer Products
- Financial Services
- Manufacturing
- Retail
- Software
- Technology
Project Types
- Strategy Development & Implementation
- Performance Improvement
- Sales and Sales Management
- Organizational Design
- Strategic Talent Management
- Post-merger Integration
Representative Clients
Companies
- Coca Cola
- Ford
- DHL
- Compaq / HP
- Sabre
- World Fuel Services
- Banco Santander
- ThyssenKrupp
- Caldor
PE Firms
- TPG
- Investcorp
- Welsh Carson

Partner, Startup Capital Ventures
CEO Grassroots Enterprise
CEO WorldPages
BCG – Co-founder of high tech. practice, now largest in firm
Sr. Engineer, Beckman-Coulter
MBA, Stanford University
BS, Electrical Engineering, UC Irvine
Representative Projects
- Led project for Microsoft to develop MSN with Bill Gates
- Co-led project for Disney to develop retail presence (Disney Stores)
- Developed a restaurant model for optimization of size, pricing, hours, etc.
- Led project for Chevron to evaluate larger convenience stores at gas stations
- Led project for Snap-On Tools to evaluate entering aerospace rivet industry
- Led hub & maintenance base strategy for Air Canada
- Led project for ATT to develop it’s first commercial broadband project
- Led project for National Semiconductor to evaluate building a new semi fab in Silicon Valley
Expertise
Industries
- Airline
- Energy
- Manufacturing
- Telecom
Project Types
- Growth Strategy
- M&A Strategy
- High Tech
- Startups
- Process Re-engineering
- Turnaround
- Internet Privacy & Policy
Representative Clients
Companies
- Microsoft MSN
- Disney Retail
- Disney Movie Distribution
- Chevron Chemicals
- Chevron C-Stores
- Snap-On Tools
- National Semi
- AT&T
- Westinghouse
- Forte Hotels (UK)
- Hawaii Restaurant
- EPRI
- PG&E
- GM
- Petronas (Malaysia)

Founder, Galileo Preschool
Co-Founder & Director of Strategy, EarlySpark
COO, Identified
PE Associate, H.I.G. Capital
Consultant, BCG
MBA, Stanford University
MA, Education, Stanford University
MS, Comp Sci / Electrical Engineering, M.I.T.
BS, Comp Sci / Electrical Engineering, M.I.T.
Representative Projects
- Created a 5-year roadmap for a global non-profit to solidify their change model and scale their organization
- Implemented a global restructuring of a Fortune 500 company through several worldwide workshops, redesigning the organization layer-by-layer starting with the CEO down to the front-line workers
- Designed and executed a successful sales strategy workshop for Sales VPs and Executive Leadership to boost global revenue
- Conducted multiple PE due diligence projects in the craft, healthcare, manufacturing and transportation spaces
- Developed and implemented the user growth blueprint and analytics platform for a B2C Internet platform
- Designed a large-scale research study (RTC) and secured Stanford faculty to oversee the study and publish the findings
- Developed a profit improvement plan for autobody chain
- Built a growth strategy for a national home décor company
- Designed educational assessments for preschool and elementary school students, following global assessment standards
- Developed a data pricing model for a biotech company
Expertise
Industries
- Consumer Products
- Financial Services
- Manufacturing
- Technology
Project Types
- Growth Strategy
- FP&A
- M&A
- Profit Improvement
- Organizational Design
- Due Diligence
Representative Clients
Companies
- Global Fortune 100 Bank
- Fortune 500 Biotech Company
- Fortune 500 Materials Manufacturing Company
- EarlySpark, a global non-profit focused on transforming education in India
- Top Systems, the leading banking systems provider in Latin America
- DCWV, leading paper craft company and numerous acquisition targets

Managing Director, MHT Partners
Senior Consultant, Bain & Company
Communities Product Manager, AOL Netscape
MBA, Stanford
BA, Humanities and Managerial Studies, Rice University
Representative Projects
- Evaluated investment and divestiture opportunities to manage cashflow strategy for a public company in a rapidly consolidating news media industry
- Developed detailed post-merger integration plan to identify operational and financial synergies and to maximize revenue in a $120 million merger of business logistics services companies
- Managed buy side program with multiple add-on acquisitions for SaaS education platform resulting in successful $300 million portfolio exit
- Led due diligence for $100+ million acquisition of a high margin niche business, radically expanding the services portfolio of a tax services company
- Developed valuation model enabling one of largest deals in UK history, a $35 billion merger of global consumer goods conglomerates
- Performed detailed long-term scenario modeling for global beverages M&A during a period of intense industry consolidation, enabling development of growth and defensive strategies for a $5 billion alcoholic beverages producer
- Led profitability study to segment market, prioritize customer base, and evaluate channel economics for a US automotive manufacturer.
- Developed detailed analysis of top 50 acquisition targets for a geopolitical/ macroeconomic think tank influential in governments and institutional investors
Expertise
Industries
- Consumer Products
- Financial Services
- Food and Beverage
Project Types
- Growth Strategy
- M&A Strategy
- Due Diligence
- Market Analysis
- Post-merger Integration
- Market Segmentation
Representative Clients
Companies
- Blackboard (Archipelago Learning)
- Freeman Company
- A. H. Belo
- Ryan LLC (tax services)
- Diageo (Guinness)
- FEMSA (Heineken)
- Ford
- Navistar
- Hewlett Packard
- Del Monte Royal
- Norton Rose (law M&A)
PE Firms
- Providence Equity Partners
- Carlyle Group
- BV Investment
- Castanea Partners
- JH Whitney

- CDO, LA Promise Fund
- Manager, Mattel Corp. Strat.
- Consultant, Bain & Company
- Business Advisor, Peace Corps
- Analyst, JP Morgan
- MBA, Wharton, University of Pennsylvania
- BA, Business Economics, Brown University
Representative Projects
- Developed a three-year strategic plan for a financial services client (1.5 years+) with ~$45B in managed assets. Worked on product development, strategic planning, advisor productivity, Salesforce effectiveness, and organizational design engagements
- Completed five acquisitions for a PE-backed industrial goods company. Identified targets in adjacent markets, led prospecting, and prepared investment memorandums
- Identified additional revenue opportunities for a leading ridesharing platform by assessing the market size of the music and sporting event industries
- Led strategy and implementation of key organizational turnaround initiatives at LA’s largest charter (~$200M) network of 25 schools
- Analyzed and prioritized 50+ R&D investments for a ~$64B beverage company
- Conducted due diligence for an automobile manufacturer acquiring a large RV competitor. Acquisition was the largest transaction in the company’s history
- Analyzed competitors and industry trends to create a competitive intelligence report for a leading cruise company
Expertise
Industries
- Automotive
- Consumer Products
- Financial Services
- Food and Beverage
- Industrials
- Nonprofits
- Private Equity
- Retail
- Tourism/Hospitality
- Transportation Services
Project Types
- Growth Strategy
- M&A Strategy
- Market Intelligence
- GTM Strategy
- Organizational Design
- Due Diligence
Representative Clients
- Alliance College-Ready Public Schools
- AlphaSights
- Aramsco
- Ares
- Authen Activewear
- Avantax Wealth Management
- ChromoLogic
- Financial Recovery Technologies
- Pepsi
- Singer
- Uber
- Viking Cruises
- Winnebago

- COO, J&S Audio Visual
- VP, Apple Leisure Group
- Principal, Plutus Capital
- Principal, SunTx Partners
- Consultant, Bain & Company
- J.D. University of Virginia Law School with emphasis on M&A
- B.S., B.A. Southern Methodist University Dallas
Representative Projects
- Developed cost reduction initiative for large public property management company based in Toronto/New York. Led business process outsourcing plan for several back-office functions including HR, Payroll, F&A, Call Center.
- Consolidated back-offices functions of three PE-backed travel companies and 10 different business departments including Operations, Call Center Customer Service, F&A, Rate Loading saving $6mm annually.
- Oversaw divestment of large $250M E-commerce business for a PE backed company which included winding down operations and data-centers.
- COO of $100M+ PE-backed hotel services business encompassing 400+ employees. Oversaw FP&A and all aspects of Operations. Created Key Performance Indicators, vision, and strategy for group.
- Created continuous improvement office which identified bottlenecks in a $1B+ Canadian copper mining operation, increasing production by 18%.
- Developed outsourcing plan for large software application company identifying over $20M in annual savings.
- Created Centralized Procurement office for major aero-space defense contractor which consolidated purchasing efforts with company’s largest suppliers saving 12%.
Expertise
Industries
- Airline
- Business Services
- Defense
- Mining
- Private Equity
- Real Estate
- Retail
- Technology
- Tourism/Hospitality
- Transportation Services
Project Types
- SG&A Reduction
- BPO
- Operations Optimization
- KPI Dashboards
- Business Process Transformation
- M&A Assessment/PMI
- PMO
Representative Clients
Companies
- Brookfield Properties
- Apple Leisure Group
- Woolworths (Australia)
- Ned Bank (South Africa)
- Teck Industries (Canada)
- Sabre Group
- Rio-Tinto (Australia)
- Expedia/Travelocity
- Freeman Industries
- United Airlines
- Lockheed-Martin
PE Firms
- Plutus Capital
- SunTx Capital

- FounFounder, Practiko, LLC
- Managing Director, WM Partners
- Co-founder, PadInMotion
- Principal, Bain & Company
- MBA, Harvard Business School
- MSc, Economics, LSE
- BA, Economics, ITESM
Representative Projects
- Co-led the creation of a ~$300M fund focused on nutritional supplements. Sold to Clorox for ~$700M. Rolled up five nutritional supplement players, doubling revenue and increasing EBITDA 10x within three years.
- Created a customer focused growth strategy for a major pharma company focused on customer driven growth doubling stock value within 12 months
- Co-founder of PadInMotion, providing tablet technology for patients at hospitals, achieving exponential growth in first five years
- Developed detailed growth strategy (brand-pack) to reactivate growth for a beverage company in a mature market to reach >8% CAG
- Redesigned organization of major retailer in Mexico to double LATAM business in 5 years with lower costs
- Redesigned new commercial model to boost efficient growth for a major pharma company
- Developed multiple R&D and growth strategies for a variety of mid and large pharma customers across different therapeutic areas such as oral contraceptives, cardiovascular, and ophthalmology
- Conducted due diligence and created an expansion strategy for a network of radiotherapy centers
Expertise
Industries
- Chemicals
- Consumer Products
- Education
- Financial Services
- Health & Wellness
- Healthcare Services
- Industrials
- Pharmaceuticals
- Retail
Project Types
- Growth Strategy
- M&A Strategy
- Post-merger Integration
- Organizational Design
- Marketing
- Profit Improvement
- Due Diligence
- Strategy Implementation
Representative Clients
Companies
- 3 of the top 5 pharma companies
- National chain of pharmacies
- Mid size pharma
- Network of radiotherapy centers
- Leading mass retailer
- Global beverage company
- Leading multinational food player
- Global beer company
- Leading international green house operator
PE Firms
- Top tier PE firms
- Mid size PE firm
- Founding member of WM Partners focused on health and wellness
- International producer of specialty chemicals