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Brian F. Gleason, CTP

Brian F. Gleason, CTP

Senior Managing Director and Shareholder

Bio

Brian Gleason is a Senior Managing Director and Shareholder at Phoenix and has managed or participated in well more than 200 turnaround engagements over the past 25+ years using his executive, operational, financial, and negotiating skills.

Brian has led numerous investment banking engagements and is responsible for representing his clients on nearly $1 billion in capital raises, sales, and balance sheet restructuring transactions. Mr. Gleason brings experience that combines extensive executive, financial, and operational management with a strong marketing sensitivity.

Mr. Gleason has led numerous Phoenix projects in both the private and public sectors. His specific areas of expertise include executive management, financial management, operational structures, complex multi-party negotiations, financial modeling, budgeting, strategic planning, organizational process design, and pricing and sensitivity modeling. Mr. Gleason has held interim management positions in a variety of industries, including roles in hands-on operations as well as executive management, in both public and private companies. Mr. Gleason’s interim management roles have included CEO, CFO, COO, and CRO; additionally he regularly is retained to act as a Board Member of companies facing disruption. He has assisted companies in sourcing capital and has advised on merger and acquisition transactions. In addition, Brian has provided expert testimony in numerous financial and turnaround management matters.

Life Before Phoenix

Mr. Gleason joined Phoenix after a career that consisted of managing a team of financial and operational analysts focusing on organizational process, improvement, and financial performance. This involved a four-year project repositioning a $200 million division of a national financial services provider, which included strategic dispositions, process outsourcing agreements, and product repositioning and redesign.

Education & Affiliations

Mr. Gleason is a graduate of Drexel University with degrees in both Finance and Marketing. While attending Drexel, he was appointed the first student to sit as a voting member of a committee of the University’s Board of Trustees. He is active in a variety of local and national professional and charitable organizations. Mr. Gleason regularly speaks and publishes articles on a variety of topics regarding business finance and management. Brian holds the Certified Turnaround Professional (CTP) designation from the Turnaround Management Association (TMA).

Featured Transactions

Chief Restructuring Officer, Health Club Chain: Led a chain of 100 health clubs, with over 1,500 employees, through the process of reopening post COVID-19, restructuring of its balance sheet and ultimately to a successful sale of the Company.

Independent Board Director, Machine Tool Company: Retained to shepherd a machine tool company through a bankruptcy process to a successful sale of the Company.

Lead Financial Advisor, Puerto Rico Bankruptcy Mediation Team: Advised team of federal judges handling all mediation matters in the Puerto Rico bankruptcy on financial, negotiations and other matters. 

Advisor, City of Detroit Bankruptcy: Led a team of five Phoenix professionals in providing the independent expert on feasibility with the analysis and research to offer her opinion on the Plan of Adjustment proposed by the City and the development of the Standard by which the feasibility of the Plan would be evaluated.

CRO, High-Precision Machine Tooling: Restructured operations for high-precision machine tooling and its sister company in the tool building industry during the collapse of the auto industry in the late 2000s.

Restructuring Advisor, Flexible Fuel Cell Manufacturer: Assisted the management team with developing a turnaround plan and determining whether a return to profitability was feasible after 10 consecutive years of losses and negative cash flow.

Financial Advisory Team Leader, Sub Prime Finance Company: Proposed and confirmed a Plan of Reorganization that led to 100% distribution to creditors and retention of ownership by pre-petition equity holders.

Advisor, Public Aviation Parts Reseller: Provided guidance through its restructuring under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code following the events of September 11, 2001.

Advisor to the Board of Directors, Overleveraged Direct Mail Company: Worked with the Board of Directors to craft a sale of assets outside of bankruptcy and worked with the guarantors and banks to eliminate personal guarantees.

Interim COO and CFO, Public Apparel Company: Developed an alternative plan to full liquidation that allowed for the operation of business while various operating divisions were sold. All creditors were paid in full, deferred pension obligations were satisfied, and the public shareholders were provided distributions.

Advisor, International Bank: Led portfolio management for an international bank after entering into liquidation and developed a plan that ultimately monetized its investments, recovering more than 200% of its initial recovery estimates.

CRO, Regional Petroleum Distribution Company: Recruited a new CEO while leading the operational turnaround and de-leveraging of Company balance sheets.

Restructuring Advisor and Special Advisor to the Board, Inpatient Specialty Hospital: Led the turnaround of the hospital that ensured continued operations and developed a strategy to ensure billings properly reflected the level of care provided.

Financial Advisor, Regional Soda Bottling Company: Led the turnaround of the Company by restructuring its entire pricing, promotional, and marketing strategies.

Board Advisor, Canning Business: Led the analysis and integration planning efforts for a canning business acquiring one of its largest competitors.

Advisor, National Franchise Restaurant: Led the sale of a large regional chain of a National Franchise Restaurant, resulting in a significant increase in the sale price of a previously negotiated deal between the company’s lender and the potential buyer.

Advisor, Petroleum Distribution Business: Led recapitalization of the business that resulted in sufficient liquidity to support an 18-month turnaround of the company.

Advisor, Private Equity Fund: Represented a private equity fund in their negotiations of the sale of a portfolio asset to a management-backed group.

Advisor, Consumer Products Company: Sale of the assets of a distressed consumer products company in less than 30 days from first meeting with the buyer to closing.

Mobile: (610) 659-8118

Office Location: New York, Philadelphia

Years with Phoenix: 28

Years of Experience: 32

Service Specialties:

Turnaround Management

Crisis Management

Interim Management

CRO

Board Advisory/Membership

Complex Multi Party Negotiations

Operational Assessments

Financial Forecasting

Cash Management

Strategic Advisory

Bankruptcy Advisory

Liquidation & Business Wind Down

Due Diligence Reviews

Litigation Support

Recapitalization

Refinancing

Expansion/Growth Financing

Management of §363 Sales Process

Out-of-court Bankruptcy Auctions

Divestitures

Balance Sheet Restructurings

Industry Specialties:

Aircraft & Parts

Apparel

Automotive

Chemicals

Construction

Consumer Products

Contractors

Convenience Stores

Direct Mail

Electrical Products

Financial Services

Food and Beverage

Healthcare

Leasing

Local Transportation

Metal Products

Municipal Entities

Non Profits

Oil & Petroleum Distribution

Personal Care Products

Printing

Private Equity Fund

Restaurants

Security & Other Services

Let’s create value together.

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