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.

Deborah’s expertise is in consumer media.

Deborah was SVP of strategy and head of initiatives for News Corp, where she started businesses, developed new revenue streams and made investments and acquisitions. Previously, she was deputy managing editor of The Wall Street Journal and editor and senior reporter at the Financial Times.

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.

Randall specializes in healthcare and B2B media.

Randall has 18 years of expertise in running leading media brands in foodservice, retail and healthcare, including Nation’s Restaurant News, Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Supermarket News, Chain Store Age and Drug Store News. With experience at family-owned Lebhar-Friedman and at private equity-backed Penton Media, Randall has built and grown high-quality content and digital first brands. He has been involved in many acquisitions and divestitures over his career, notably as president and CEO of Lebhar-Friedman, where he oversaw its sale to a strategic buyer in 2018.

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, advertising, marketing and the creator economy.

Erica is known as the Food Network CEO who masterminded one of the most popular channels ever—“TV for everyone who loves to eat”. Prior to Food, she created one of Madison Avenue’s first digital ad agencies, Saatchi & Saatchi Interactive. Erica is a principal with Quantum Media, named in Forbes’ list of “America’s Best Management Consulting Companies” for five years running.

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.

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.

Daniel specializes in scholarly, academic and healthcare publishing.

Daniel has completed acquisitions around the globe in these sectors, including in the UK, Europe, Brazil, India and the US. He has worked for over 20 years in senior roles in both print and digital media for market leaders, such as Elsevier, Springer-Nature and Thieme. Based in Paris, Daniel is currently the president of TIPOTA, a corporate strategy firm focused on digital transformation.

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.

Marci is a seasoned digital leader in consumer media, advertising and technology.

Marci was head of O&O Media Supply for T-Mobile Advertising Solutions and chief commercial officer at Vengo Labs. She is on the WE.DOOH advisory board and has been named a Woman2Watch in Business Disruption. She previously held senior roles at Time Out North America, CondeNet and Vindigo.