NEW YORK & SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Focus Financial Partners (‘Focus’), the leading international partnership of independent wealth management firms, today announced ten new hires at the holding company level since 2014. This group of key hires expands the M&A, Finance, Legal & Compliance and Marketing teams and increases the firm’s bench strength during a period of rapid growth.
“We are very excited by the quality of talent we have attracted. These professionals will further enhance our ability to offer unparalleled resources and support to the partner firms,” said Rudy Adolf, Founder and CEO of Focus Financial Partners. “Our investment in people reflects Focus’ continued commitment to further strengthening the leading global partnership of independent wealth management firms.”
Among others, new executives leading the M&A efforts for established RIAs and breakaway teams include:
Justin Ferri joins as Managing Director of Focus Connections where he will work closely with elite wealth management teams and individuals from wirehouses as they transition their businesses to the independent space. With 20 years of experience in the field, Justin was most recently a Co-Founding Principal at Principium Ventures, a boutique private equity firm specializing in impact-oriented businesses. Before that, he served as Managing Director and the Global Head of Merrill Lynch’s Alternative Investments division, where he was President and CEO of three RIAs that collectively managed over $35 billion of assets.
Eric Amar, Molly Bennard, Scott Holsopple, and Sukanya Kuruganti all join as Vice Presidents within the Business Development team, where they will lead M&A efforts at Focus, as well as develop organic growth strategies for the partner firms. Each of them brings more than ten years of experience in management consulting, investment banking and asset management.
- Previously, Eric Amar was Head of Strategy & Innovation at The Guardian Life Insurance Company, where he developed corporate strategies to accelerate growth and increase profitability. Before that, he was as an Associate Principal at McKinsey & Company.
- Molly Bennard joins Focus from AXA US, where she served as Head of the Strategic Initiatives Group, leading corporate strategy and business development initiatives across the organization. Prior to AXA, she was an Associate within the investment banking division of Morgan Stanley, executing M&A, equity and debt transactions within the financial institutions industry.
- Scott Holsopple was most recently Head of Product and Business Development at The Mutual Fund Store where he was responsible for the firm’s service offerings and acquisition efforts. Scott joined TMFS via its acquisition of Smart401k.com, where he was President and CEO of the online financial advisor providing retirement planning for over 25,000 contribution participants.
- Sukanya Kuruganti was most recently Director of Corporate Development and M&A at Barclays, leading mergers & acquisitions and proprietary investments across lending and payments businesses in the US, UK, Western Europe and South Africa. Prior to Barclays, she was a Vice President at Citigroup in New York, responsible for structuring and executing M&A opportunities in the US and Asia Pacific.
About Focus Financial Partners, LLC
Founded in 2006, Focus Financial Partners, LLC, is the leading international partnership of independent, fiduciary wealth management firms. With well over $325 million in annual run rate revenues, Focus provides unrivaled access to best practices, resources, and continuity planning for its partner firms who serve individuals, families, employers and institutions with wealth management, benefit and investment consulting services. Focus partner firms maintain their entrepreneurial independence, while they benefit from the synergies, scale, economics and best practices of the market leader to achieve their business objectives. Focus was included three times on Inc. magazine’s Top 500/5000 ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies in 2010, 2011 and 2014. In 2012, Focus was named a Crain’s New York Business “Fast 50” growth firm in New York City. For more information about Focus Financial Partners, please visit www.focusfinancialpartners.com