Senior advisors

Frank specializes in healthcare and technology.

Frank was deputy assistant secretary for information technology and chief information officer with the US Department of Health and Human Services, where he oversaw US$10.4 billion in IT investments. He was also an executive in the Obama administration from 2009–2015 on assignment from the Food and Drug Administration. Before joining the federal government, Frank was president of the US subsidiary of Pretards PLC, a security manufacturer. He was director of corporate strategy for IBM earlier in his career.

Karthic specializes in healthcare and technology. His M&A expertise includes the acquisitions of two data companies and two media companies and the sale of five other media properties.

Karthic was EVP of engineering, product and data for Red Ventures; global chief data officer at Conde Nast; and president of Precision Health Data Institute. His work includes using data and AI to evolve and reinvent companies by building products that are designed for a digitally enhanced world.

John specializes in working with consumer magazines, including clients such as Bloomberg, BBC Worldwide, Editora Abril and Hubert Burda Media.

John was previously publishing director of Women’s Sports and director of international development for Rodale Inc., the leading publisher of health and fitness media at the time. He also worked for Ziff Davis, CBS and New Times.

John is a seasoned investment banker who specializes in healthcare services, medical technology, software and technology. He has a distinguished track record in advising owners and investors in HCIT, including UnitedHealth/Optum, Warburg Pincus and Francisco Partners, and advised Golden Hour Data Systems, Inc. in their sale to Zoll Data Systems, a subsidiary of Asahi Kasai.

John is currently CFO of Blue Planet. He was previously managing director of Brown Brothers Harriman for 15 years, where he was co-head of global M&A advisory.

Ken is an Oaklins DeSilva+Phillips partner emeritus who specializes in valuations.

Ken was previously a partner with ODP, where he worked on hundreds of M&A assignments. Before joining ODP in 1996, Ken was president of Macmillan Publishing Europe, EVP and publisher of American Banker and Investment Dealers’ Digest, SVP of John Wiley & Sons and VP of finance at CBS Publishing.

Jeff is an Oaklins DeSilva+Phillips partner emeritus who specializes in digital media.

Jeff was previously a partner with ODP, where he worked on almost 100 M&A assignments over 20 years. His industry expertise is in digital media, events and magazines. He was COO of Mecklermedia; founder of Enews.com, one of the earliest commercial internet companies; publisher of The New Republic; and in advertising positions at Time Inc. and Smithsonian.

Itzhak specializes in technology and insights & data.

Over three decades, Itzhak has been an investor in 85 startups. He also deployed over US$3 billion in investments as EVP of M&A and global business development at Nielsen Holdings. He was previously CEO of RLS Communications and chairman and co-founder of Buzzmetrics.

John specializes in B2B media and events.

John was one of the B2B media industry’s most prominent and successful CEOs as CEO of Cygnus Business Media, CEO of Penton Media and president of PRIMEDIA’s B2B division. Earlier in his career, he worked for IDG, PennWell and CMP Publications.

Neal specializes in education and book publishing.

Neal was president of the Weekly Reader Publishing Group, where he oversaw a sale of part of the business. He was president of Scholastic Library Publishing and Prentice Hall Direct, and managed the children’s publishing operations for Book-of-the-Month Club. He held these positions in major media companies, such as Time Warner, Simon & Schuster and Scholastic.

Mike specializes in advising consumer magazine companies in the US and around the world.

Mike works as a licensing advisor to magazines in Latin America, Spain, Portugal, India, Pakistan, Japan and South Korea. He was previously publisher of Bicycling Magazine and associate publisher of Runner’s World at Rodale, at the time one of the largest enthusiast publishers in the US.

Clint has expertise in consumer publishing.

Clint has started and sold three companies: Greenleaf Book Group, HomePlate Peanut Butter and Bambino Balls. He is currently on the board of directors of three publishing companies.

Erica specializes in television, digital media and advertising.

Erica helped create one of television’s biggest brands as president and CEO of the Foot Network, where she introduced hits such as The Iron Chef, The Two Fat Ladies and Emeril Live! She also launched foodnetwork.com, the #1 website for food. She created a partnership to produce the television series The Biggest Loser and started one of Madison Avenue’s first digital advertising agencies, Saatchi & Saatchi Interactive.

Kerry has expertise in financial services, technology, media and data.

Kerry launched Open for American Express and was president and CEO of several companies, including Starwood’s St. Regis/Luxury Collection Hotels, Good Times Entertainment and Time Inc.’s QSP. She was also COO of Acxiom, a leading marketing database, email and big data provider.

Ken is a former managing director of Oaklins DeSilva+Phillips, where he specialized in M&A for healthcare media and communications.

Ken was SVP and publisher of Physicians Practice, where he oversaw digital media and virtual and live events.

Gary has expertise in podcasting and radio. He has advised Viacom, iHeartMedia, Cumulus Media, CBS Radio Networks and Disney’s ABC Radio Networks.

Previously, Gary was chief digital officer of Westwood One, president of Air America Radio, EVP of Premiere Radio Networks for Clear Channel and EVP of AMFM Radio Networks.

Dan has expertise in book publishing and music.

Dan was SVP of corporate strategy and publishing operations for Hachette Book Group, where he completed many acquisitions. Previously, he was SVP at HarperCollins and CTO at Universal Music Group.

Anthony specializes in healthcare media and communications.

Anthony was chief digital officer for WebMD Medscape, one of the leading healthcare communications companies, where he was involved in several acquisitions. Previously, he was chief digital officer of Jobson Medical, VP of business development at Everyday Health and SVP of marketing at Digitas Health.

Gerry specializes in fintech, B2B information and enterprise software.

Gerry was CEO of PerTrac Financial Solutions, a global provider of data and analytics for hedge funds and their investors. Previously, he was president and CEO for various divisions of Thomson Financial and Reuters.

Gordie specializes in healthcare technology.

Gordie has extensive experience in senior roles with eight emerging healthcare companies, including six where he was CEO. Companies where he worked include ZELTIQ Aesthetics, which he took public through an IPO, Angel Medical Systems, Atlantic Therapeutics, R2 Technologies and REVA Medical.

Steve specializes in internet video and digital media. He is recognized as the father of user generated content.

Steve is currently executive director and co-founder of The Center for Sustainable Media. He was previously CEO of Waywire Networks. While at MTV, Steve created MTV News Unfiltered, a user-generated news series.

Jeff specializes in business technology, including technology solutions, big data analytics, cyber security and cloud infrastructure.

Jeff was previously CIO at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, SVP and global CIO at The Reader’s Digest Association, and a management consultant at McKinsey & Company.

Christy specializes in broadcasting and digital transformation. She has advised companies such as the BBC, Univision, PBS and Altice.

Christy was previously EVP at CBS Interactive, CEO of Lionsgate’s TV Guide Digital and held senior digital media positions with The Washington Post, Wolters Kluwer and Variety.