Alvarez & Marsal builds private equity bench

Against a backdrop of growing GP demand for value-add services, Alvarez & Marsal has added six directors to its private equity services practice, PE Manager has exclusively learned. 

The string of hires includes Clifford Hall who takes on the role of senior director in the firm’s New York office. Hall, who was previously chief executive of cookware manufacturer All-Clad, offers private equity clients operational expertise in consumer, industrial, luxury, retail and services industries.

Also joining the firm’s New York office is Mark Elsner, who was previously responsible for technology sourcing at internet company Yahoo.

Former Deloitte M&A specialist Himanshu Gandhi has joined the firm’s Boston office where he will specialise in serving consumer and industrial products, life sciences, telecom and high-tech clients.

And joining the firm’s Chicago office are Doug Watanabe and Landon Tracy, both previously with procurement services provider Insight Sourcing Group; and Jon Sampson who was previously with public accounting and consulting firm Crowe Horwath. 

The hires come just two months after the firm expanded its private equity practice with the addition of managing director James Ilaria in Washington, DC, senior director Matthew Miller in Philadelphia, and senior director Jeff Shaffer in Los Angeles.

“Our private equity clients are looking for an edge as they execute deals in a tough economic environment,” said Nick Alvarez, managing director of A&M’s private equity services operations group, in response to the recent round of hires.