WOODBRIDGE INTL - Key Persons
Allistair joined Woodbridge International as part of the support team in Cape Town, South Africa. Before joining the Woodbridge team Allistair worked in the client service industry with a focus on the CSI ( Client Satisfaction Index) for various car dealerships across Cape Town.
Amanda is a member of Woodbridge International's Marketing & Communications team and is based in Cape Town, South Africa.
Prior to joining Woodbridge, Amanda spent five years working as a communications and relationship manager for an international volunteering experiential learning company with projects in Southern and East Africa.
Amanda has Diploma in Travel and Tourism from Damelin and is currently completing a BA in Communication Science through the University of South Africa.
Amber joined Woodbridge International as part of the support team in Cape Town, South Africa. Before joining the Woodbridge team, Amber worked in the customer service industry with a focus on assisting the customer on FCR (First Call Resolution). Going forward with Woodbridge International she plans on advancing her skills with the company.
Andile has completed a Certificate in Business Management Majoring in Entrepreneurship at Lovedale FET College, he also has 6 years' experience in the Financial Service Industry working as a Customer Service Consultant. Currently working at Woodbridge International As a Business Development Associate.
Professor Gole has been a member of team Woodbridge since November, 2016.
He has been the facilitator of Woodbridge's 2-day Management Meeting Training.
As of June 2020, he has held 24 training sessions. Prior to joining Woodbridge, Andy was an
adjunct Professor for 8 years at the Rothman Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at FDU in NJ - teaching small business management. He is a consultant to over 120 companies and is the author of the book,
Innovate Now. He holds a MBA in Marketing from NYU.
Job Titles:
- Vice President New Business
Billy Peet is responsible for working directly with perspective clients and helps on-board candidates for multi-million-dollar acquisitions. He develops relationships with business owners and ensures realistic value expectations.
Prior to joining Woodbridge, Billy held a pricing analyst role in the liquor distribution business. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus in Marketing and an MBA from Misericordia University.
Bob Dodds - Managing Director
Brandon started at Woodbridge International in November 2020 and forms part of the closing team in Cape Town, South Africa. He has a Bachelor of Commerce degree majoring in investment management and finance as well as an Honours degree specialising in Financial Analysis and Portfolio Management. Brandon is also a CFA level 2 candidate. Prior to joining Woodbridge, Brandon gained experience in wealth and portfolio management.
Brandon Steyn holds FINRA license 79 through Woodbridge International's wholly owned broker-dealer, WG Securities, LLC.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Underwriting Associate
Brevan is an Associate Financial Analyst in the Underwriting Team. Prior to joining Woodbridge International during 2023, Brevan gained five years of valuable M&A experience working in the M&A Transaction Advisory Services division of a global professional services firm. Brevan holds a Bachelor of Business Science degree specializing in Finance from the University of Cape Town and is a level II candidate of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) program.
Callum holds a bachelor degree in International Business, with an exchange semester to Canada, specialising in investments and economics; and is currently finishing up an Honours degree in these fields. His interest in investments and economics is driven by the relationship between the qualitative and quantitative side and he is always interested in growing his knowledge. During his downtime Callum does CrossFit, is an avid non-fiction reader, enjoys a swim in the ocean, and watches a lot of sport.
Job Titles:
- Special Projects Executive
Catherine joined Woodbridge in 2005 and handles a range of activities in support of the firm's dealmaking activities. Her expertise includes conducting telephone marketing campaigns and research related to sell-side and buy-side mandates. Prior to becoming a part of the Woodbridge team, Catherine worked in customer service for PHS Healthnet and earlier in the accounting department for Cartier.
CJ is responsible for ensuring the successful transaction of sellers' companies and oversees deals from bid to close. Prior to focusing on specific deals, CJ, along with the Woodbridge Leadership team, led the creation and implementation of Woodbridge's Closing Process and oversaw the Closing Process of every deal once it went under LOI to ensure transparency and expediency on every deal. CJ began his career with Woodbridge in August 2018 as Manager of Underwriting where he and the team created a streamlined process to build and analyze market-ready financial statements, identify and understand potential deal risks and trends and ensure each client was ready to face the financial scrutiny of the transaction process.
CJ joined Woodbridge from The Walt Disney Company where he most recently served as a member of the Disney/ESPN Media Networks Business Strategy team after beginning his time there with ESPN's International Accounting team. Prior to Disney, CJ was a member of the Entertainment and Media division of PWC's assurance practice. CJ holds a masters degree in accounting from Fairfield University and an undergraduate degree in Accounting from Bentley University.
CJ Perrone holds FINRA licenses 79, & 63 through Woodbridge International's wholly owned broker-dealer, WG Securities, LLC.
Clayton joined Woodbridge International as part of the growing Business Development team in Cape Town, South Africa. Clayton's passion for business and networking led him to pursue a career in sales for the past 8 years. With his ambitious spirit he was also in charge of the ongoing operations and business development of a small family business for the past year.
Conor has been involved in many transactions at Woodbridge and is responsible for managing the sale process from bid through closing and serves as a trusted advisor for Woodbridge's clients.
Conor Riordan holds FINRA licenses 79, & 63 through Woodbridge International's wholly owned broker-dealer, WG Securities, LLC.
Prior to joining Woodbridge, David was the CEO/CMO of MetroVac, a family-owned business, located in Oakland, NJ. MetroVac manufactures air movement products. Over the last 30 plus years, David developed a multitude of products for MetroVac and was responsible for company advertising/marketing. He served as CEO for the last 10 years, consistently achieving 40% gross profit margins, each year.
Job Titles:
- Senior Financial Analyst
- Underwriting Associate
Deshni joined Woodbridge International as a Senior Financial Analyst. She began her career as an article clerk at PriceWaterhouseCoopers and was promoted to assistant audit manager. Thereafter, she worked in various finance roles across multiple industries from hospitality, mining, media, manufacturing, and insurance. She has also worked for renowned companies such as KPMG and Metropolitan Momentum Holdings Pty Ltd. Deshni completed her Bachelor of Commerce and Post Graduate Diploma in Accounting from Rhodes University.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Senior Managing Director
- Senior Managing Director / Partner / New Business
Don joined Robert Koenig in 1993 and opened the doors of Woodbridge International in New Haven, CT. In addition to growing the M&A firm from scratch, Don has a proven track record of valuing and selling businesses across multiple industries and disciplines. Along with heading up new business development, Don has intimate knowledge of the buyer landscape, ranging from Private Equity Groups to Strategics. His entrepreneurial background, tenacity and deal-making expertise has helped entrepreneurs and middle-market business owners around the globe achieve a better sale price and organizational fit. Clients say Don's more interested in listening and adding value than trying to sell you something. He's a graduate of Taylor University with a BS in Business/Systems.
Job Titles:
- Research Analyst
- Business Research Analyst
Emily Tigere is a Business Research Analyst at Woodbridge International, located in Cape Town. As a valuable member of Woodbridge's Research team, Emily brings her expertise to contribute to the company's success. Prior to joining Woodbridge, she served as a Financial Data Analyst at Burgiss. Emily holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Information Systems and Business Management, further enhancing her skill set in the field. With her strong analytical abilities and extensive knowledge, Emily plays a crucial role in providing valuable insights and supporting Woodbridge International's business research endeavours.
Francois is part of Woodbridge International's Marketing Associate team, based in Cape Town, South Africa. Prior to joining Woodbridge, he worked in Private Equity Data Analytics and learned a great deal about Private Equity Groups. Francois studied Financial Management at Stellenbosch University. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, mountain biking and playing a round of golf.
For over 30 years Fred has provided CFO, bank financing, procurement and accounting services to various accounts with annual sales ranging from $2 million to $30 million.
He has serviced clients in many diverse industries from hospitality, food production and plumbing, to scientific equipment, seed and grain sales, financial services and more. Fred is a CPA and graduated from Baruch College.
Iman is part of Woodbridge International's screening team and, is based in Cape Town, South Africa.
Before joining Woodbridge, she was an office manager at a civil engineering company that facilitated service delivery at a municipal level. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in International Studies and an Honours Degree in Business History from the University of Stellenbosch.
Jacob is responsible for managing the sale process from bid through closing and serves as a trusted advisor for Woodbridge's clients. Prior to joining Woodbridge, Jacob spent 12 years at Goldman Sachs in Asia, most recently as Executive Director, heading Execution Services in Taiwan. His team covered more than 500 institutional clients globally. He moved to Taiwan from Goldman Sachs in Tokyo where he spent 9 years in execution in the Japanese market. Jacob holds a Masters Degree in Asian Studies & International Finance from the Johns Hopkins University - Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, as well as a Bachelors in Asian Studies & Economics from The John Hopkins University. Jacob is fluent in Japanese and speaks basic Mandarin.
Jacob Koenig holds FINRA licenses 79, 63, 24, 3, & 7 through Woodbridge International's wholly owned broker-dealer, WG Securities, LLC.
James joined Woodbridge International's closing team in May 2023. As a Closer, James supports the deal from IOI to close by facilitating the auction process and advising clients through due diligence. Prior to joining Woodbridge, James developed extensive experience in the manufacturing, aerospace and defense industries. He got his start in investment banking through the TrendUp Now program. James graduated from Unity College with a Bachelor's degree and holds a Master's degree in Finance from Northeastern University.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Operations
Jason is the Vice President of Operations based in Cape Town, South Africa. He joined Woodbridge International as a Research Analyst, having previously come from a research background. At Woodbridge, Jason is responsible for operations through the Research department and matters relating to data analytics. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Economics from Rhodes University.
Prior to joining Woodbridge, Jason was with Merrill on the Wealth Management side. Jason's primary responsibility is identifying and engaging with potential clients, while also prioritizing the development of long-lasting relationships. With a diverse background in various financial positions and experience as a co-founder of a student run start-up during his college years, Jason brings a well-rounded perspective to his role. He holds a bachelor's degree in Communication with a minor in Entrepreneurship from the University of Connecticut. Outside of work, Jason enjoys pursuing his passions for golf, sports, and travel. Jason holds FINRA licenses 7 & 66 through Woodbridge International's wholly owned broker-dealer, WG Securities, LLC.
Job Titles:
- Manager
- Member of Woodbridge International 's Marketing & Communications
Jessica is a member of Woodbridge International's Marketing & Communications team and is based in Cape Town, South Africa.
Prior to joining Woodbridge, Jessica spent two years working as an editor at GetSmarter, a global leader in the EdTech space. It was during her time at GetSmarter that Jessica developed an interest in corporate finance and economics.
Jessica has BA in English Literature from the University of Cape Town and a BHons in European Literature from the University of the Witwatersrand.
Johan began his investment banking career working at Benchmark International as a transaction analyst facilitating larger SME transactions in South Africa. Prior to joining Woodbridge, he was an Associate at SmartWage (a fintech startup), focusing on raising capital and developing JV partnerships. Johan holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and Accounting and is currently an MBA candidate.
Justin joined Woodbridge International as part of the growing Business Development team in Cape Town. He acquired a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Stellenbosch University, specializing in Entrepreneurship and Industrial Psychology. He has experience working with a Johannesburg-based social enterprise for two years.
Kaylin joined Woodbridge as part of the Business Development Calling Ambassador Team in Cape Town. Prior to joining Woodbridge, Kaylin has completed her internship at SAS Institute - a leading analytics company as a sales intern. She also recently completed her BCom Honours Degree in which she majored in Economics, Marketing Management, Operations Management, Strategic Management and Human Resources and Labour Relations Management. Her passion for business and sales has led her to join the Woodbridge Team.
Prior to joining Woodbridge, Kyle was a Front-end Web Developer at Affinion Group, a global affinity marketing company. Previously, Kyle served as Director of Information Technology at ShowMotion Inc., a specialty builder of entertainment sets and scenery. Kyle is responsible for programming and updating the Woodbridge website and for IT functions related to serving clients. He is completing a BA in Graphic Design at Sacred Heart University.
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner / Closing
As Managing Partner, Kyle is responsible for the firm's strategic planning and performance tracking, steering it in the path of growth. Kyle also oversees all of Woodbridge's deals, leading the firm's world-class Closing team, which he continually trains and motivates to achieve exceptional results for Woodbridge clients while efficiently driving deals to a timely closing. His comprehensive background and depth of experience in both investment banking and accounting allow him to provide practical solutions to complex deal issues.
When he first joined the firm, Kyle built out Woodbridge's Underwriting department. Kyle also manages the firm's administrative duties, including the firm's legal and financial affairs. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), holds an Accredited in Business Valuation Designation (ABV), and earned his Accounting degree from University of Connecticut.
Kyle Richard holds FINRA licenses 79, 63, & 24 through Woodbridge International's wholly owned broker-dealer, WG Securities, LLC.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Partner
- Senior Managing Director
- Senior Managing Director / Partner / New Business
Since 2005, Larry has served as Managing Director for Woodbridge International. He brings more than 30 years of experience as a financial professional advising entrepreneurs, middle-market business owners and corporate executives on strategies to maximize their company's value. Along with heading up new business development, Larry has worked extensively in several industries including manufacturing, distribution, business services, retail and healthcare. Before joining Woodbridge, he was a commercial lender for JP Morgan Chase and Merrill Lynch. He is a frequent speaker to business groups and law firms on M&A and corporate finance issues. His "Ask Larry" video series continues to educate prospective and existing clients domestically and abroad. A graduate of Manhattanville College with a B.A. in political science and economics, Larry lives in Pleasantville, N.Y. with his wife and two sons.
Larry Reinharz holds FINRA licenses 24, 14, 79, 63 & 7 through Woodbridge International's wholly owned broker-dealer, WG Securities, LLC.
Linda is part of our dedicated support team based in South Africa. Linda has worked in the service industry for 12 years as a Front of House Manager at an international Health and Fitness brand. She has done numerous short courses in the service industry as well as health and safety, she was also a health and safety representative at her previous workplace.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Member of Our Dedicated Support Team
Lynne is a member of our dedicated support team based in South Africa for Woodbridge International. She along with other team members assist with our global outreach campaigns. Lynne has over 15 years of customer service and administration experience. She has worked in the Insurance and Financial Services industries, amongst others. Prior to Woodbridge International Lynne worked at Deloitte for 5 years within the Accounting and Financial Advisory department.
Job Titles:
- COO
- Partner
- Senior Managing Director
Since 2004, Marni has brought over 20 years of experience as a financial professional overseeing the organization's research and IT initiatives. The complexities of growing the firm, its strategic and operational solutions and what it takes to get it done leverage her diverse talents. Before joining Woodbridge, she was IT Project Manager for the Marketing/Finance team at Pitney Bowes. Along with a business degree with specialization in Management Information Systems from Western Connecticut State University, Marni brings tremendous experience, leadership, and knowledge to her clients and influences the culture that makes Woodbridge unique.
Job Titles:
- Memory Sethuoa 's Bio / Memory Sethuoa / Team Lead, Underwriting Manager
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Client Marketing
Michael began his career in the energy efficiency industry working for utility contractors where he marketed, educated and sold various energy efficiency products that updated commercial building infrastructures while reducing the bottom line expenses. Prior to that position, he lead an event marketing team that expanded business development for the Home Energy Solutions program run through the Energize CT program. Michael holds a Bachelors in English from Providence College.
Job Titles:
- Manager Marketing Associate / Marketing Associates
Job Titles:
- Senior Financial Analyst, Underwriting
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Partner
- Managing Director, Cape Town Operations
Yang Ye - Managing Director