Industry: Technology
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
VP Strategy, Blucora
AVP Corporate Strategy & Development, AT&T
Case Team Leader, Bain & Company
Ops Officer, U.S. Intel Community
MBA, Duke University
BS, Electrical Engineering, Missouri S&T University
Representative Projects
- Planned and executed multiple domestic and international high-stakes telecommunications auctions with $18B+ acquisitions
- Developed growth strategy for recently-acquired specialty insurance company resulting in customer acquisition of $30B anchor client
- Led development of wealth management M&A growth strategy with $20B in asset growth potential
- Established and led annual strategic planning process for Fortune 10 firm
- Formed and led program management of new global joint venture for five major telecommunications firms achieving technical prototypes in 6 weeks
- Established program management organization and governance committee for $81B in wireless radio spectrum assets
- Conducted due diligence of $1.4B U.S. Government subsidy auction, identifying significant flaws in auction and program design, and advocating for change with FCC
- Led due diligence team of new 5G technology and resulting deployment cost model
- Managed creation of wealth management profit improvement plan with new pricing to realize $45M in incremental gross profit
Expertise
Industries
- Financial Services
- Military & Intelligence
- Speciality Retail
- Technology
- Telecommunications
Expertise
- Growth Strategy
- Auction Planning & Execution
- Strategic Planning & Program Management
- Due Diligence
- Profit Improvement
Representative Clients
Companies
- AT&T
- Blucora, Inc.
- $10B Speciality Insurer
- Fortune 10 Financial Services Firm
- $15B speciality retailer
- Top 5 private equity firm
- Top 20 private equity firm
- U.S. Intelligence Community Agency
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
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
Independent Consultant, Estee Lauder Companies and Macy’s
Director, What If Innovation
Principal, Bain & Company
Consultant, Bridgespan Group
MBA, Stanford Graduate School of Business
BA, Public Policy, Brown University
Representative Projects
- Led development of a full potential growth strategy for ~$700M PE owned consumer products company to drive increased profitability
- Created global supply chain strategy for multi-branded clothing retailer
- Developed growth and channel strategy for a growing media business
- Generated consumer insights for consumer health business in the pain category
- Developed an innovation roadmap for <$100M PE-owned consumer products company to drive category expansion
- Designed new salesforce strategy for a major pharmaceuticals company
- Created full potential growth strategy for the US division of a global HR services business
- Led implementation of a digitally-oriented customer loyalty strategy for retailer
- Drove transformation program focused on organization, process, and technology for multi-branded beauty company
- Built an omnichannel growth strategy for department store chain
- Managed a successful post-merger integration effort within the research and advisory industry
Expertise
Industries
- Advertising & Media
- Consumer Products
- Pharmaceuticals
- Retail
- Technology
Project Types
- Growth Strategy
- Innovation
- Transformation
- Process Improvement
- Organizational Design
- Customer Loyalty
Representative Clients
Companies
- Yankee Candle
- ThinkThin
- Estee Lauder
- Sanofi
- HP
- Warner Music Group
- Macy’s
- Liz Claiborne
- Pfizer
- Sirius Radio (pre XM merger)
- Manhattan Mini Storage
- Adecco Group
PE Firms
- TSG Consumer
- Madison Dearborn Partners
- Worked in Bain’s Private Equity Group early in career
- Founder, Wander New Mexico
- Case Team Leader, Bain & Company
- Associate, Good Harbor Consulting
- Senior Consultant, Booz Allen Hamilton
- BS, Economics, Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania
Representative Projects
- Developed a strategy to accelerate company growth and maximize exit valuation multiples for a ~$300M metal manufacturer
- Developed a growth strategy for a ~$200M online consumer loan business
- Created a roadmap for a ~$40M publisher to improve profitability and pursue new strategic growth opportunities
- Developed a growth strategy for a hydraulic seal manufacturer
- Developed a 5-year value creation plan for a ~$600M wine distributor in Canada post acquisition by a PE fund
- Led team of big data analysts in customer churn root cause analysis for Fortune 500 SaaS business. Analyzed massive amounts of data from nine corporate databases to identify $30M in customer retention improvement opportunities.
- Designed and implemented capital projects prioritization system for energy company, resulting in savings of $15 million
- Re-engineered procurement processes for leading energy company, resulting in improved supplier relationship management and expenditure planning
Expertise
Industries
- Aerospace/Defense
- Consumer Products
- Economic Development
- Energy
- Manufacturing
- Public Sector
- Retail
- Technology
- Tourism/Hospitality
Project Types
- Growth Strategy
- Profit Improvement
- Marketing
- Process Optimization
- Organizational Design
- NPS/Customer Insights
Representative Clients
Companies
- Arterra Wines
- PDC
- Best Egg
- Publishing Concepts
- Fortune 50 IT hardware company
- Fortune 100 software company
- Gulf region National Oil Company
PE Firms
- Ontario Teachers
- Anchor Partners
- 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
- Founder, Maven Associates
- Principal, Stagen
- VP Strategy & BD, GES
- Manager, Bain & Company
- Engineer, Black & Veatch
- MBA, Tuck-Dartmouth
- BS, Mechanical Engineering, Rice University
- BA, Economics, Claremont McKenna College
Representative Projects
- Led development of a strategy to accelerate company growth and maximize exit valuation multiples for a ~$300M metal manufacturer
- Developed a growth strategy for a ~$200M online consumer loan business
- Created a roadmap for a ~$40M publisher to improve profitability and pursue new strategic growth opportunities
- Conducted a 3-week due diligence of a PE acquisition target in the equipment moving space
- Led the development of a profit improvement plan for a hydraulic seal manufacturer
- Developed a 5-year Value Creation Plan for a ~$600M wine distributor in Canada post acquisition by a PE fund
- Built a growth strategy for a ~$200M luxury recreational boat manufacturer
- Conducted a 3-week due diligence of a PE acquisition target in the land management space
- Developed detailed analysis of the Top 20 competitors of a national big box retailer
- Created a growth strategy for a ~$100M SaaS business
Expertise
Industries
- Business Services
- Consumer Products
- Financial Services
- Manufacturing
- Metal Fabrication
- Restaurants
- Retail
- Technology
- Transportation Services
Project Types
- Due Diligence
- Growth Strategy
- M&A/PMI
- Marketing/Branding
- Organizational Design
- Profit Improvement
Representative Clients
Companies
- Cobalt Boats
- At Home
- Safariland
- PointClickCare
- WorldStrides
- Alliance Equipment
- Arterra Wines
- Craftmark Bakery
- Raybern’s
- PDC
- Best Egg
PE Firms
- Carlyle Group
- JMI Equity
- Ontario Teachers
- Anchor Partners
- Satori Capital
- Founder, Forseti Partners
- VP Analysis/Planning, Amtrak
- Manager, McKinsey
- Engineer, GM/Ford
- Faculty, Univ. of Michigan
- MBA, Cornell
- PhD, Mechanical Engineering, Michigan
- BS, Aerospace Engineering, Iowa State
- Representative Projects
- Developed market assessment and growth analysis for advanced soft magnetic materials (ferrites, nanocrystallines, amorphous.)
- Developed comprehensive commercial assessment of the impact of wide bandgap semiconductors on power electronics markets.
- Developed North American market entry strategy for new high horsepower diesel engine joint venture.
- Created a strategic roadmap for a manufacturer of hydraulic off-road axles for trucks and agricultural equipment, including the analysis of alternative motive technologies.
- Developed go-to-market and share capture strategy in the large industrial gear market.
- Developed detailed growth strategies for the largest global Tier 1 heavy truck axle/brake manufacturer.
- Led comprehensive sourcing and supply chain optimization efforts for a $7B aerospace tier 1 supplier with >$1.5B in external spend. Developed category specific strategies for a complete range of manufactured components and services.
- Served as the CPO for a $10B entertainment and technology supplier, managing over $2B in annual external spend.
Expertise
Industries
- Automotive
- Manufacturing
- Medical Devices
- Technology
- Transportation Services
Project Types
- Growth Strategy
- M&A Strategy
- Operations
- Procurement/SCM
- Organizational Design
- Due Diligence
Representative Clients
Companies
- Meritor
- BNSF Logistics
- Alcoa
- Cummins
- General Electric
- Ticketmaster
- Northwest Hardwoods
- Mark43
- MTD
- Xerox
- Spirit Aerosystems
PE Firms
- Onyx
- HCI
- Ontario Teachers
- Watermill