December 4, 2018, Chicago,IL – Akoya is excited to announce that Jim Bland has joined as a Managing Director.

Jim has over 20 years of experience ranging from private equity to consulting and company operations. He has spent the last thirteen years as a principal equity investor acquiring lower middle market companies as a partner for both a top-quartile institutional private equity fund (HCP & Company) and a multi-family office (Pareto & Company). His responsibilities have included deal sourcing, transaction execution, portfolio company monitoring and value creation across a variety of industries including consumer products, healthcare services and for-profit education. He has also been actively involved in capital raising strategies.

Jim began his career as a US Army field artillery officer ultimately serving over eight years on active duty and in the US Army Reserve. He has also worked in a range of management and consulting roles at HSBC and Capgemini (formerly Ernst & Young Strategic Advisory Services). He also spent time in an operational role at @Link Networks, a telecommunications portfolio company of Madison Dearborn Partners and Columbia Ventures.

Jim received his BS from the United States Military Academy at West Point where he still gives back as an elected Advisor-at-Large to the Board of Directors of the Association of Graduates. He holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where he received the Dean’s Award of Distinction. Jim also serves as a mentor for Boys Hope Girls Hope of Illinois.

“We are thrilled to add Jim to our senior leadership team and know he will be a great addition,” added Max DeZara, Managing Partner.

About Akoya Capital

Akoya Capital is a sector focused private investment firm that creates and nurtures partnerships between management and capital and invests in middle market businesses with attractive growth prospects. We bring together industry leaders, investment worthy executives, and private sources of capital to execute acquisition-based strategies to create significant value for sellers, management and investors. We are a highly experienced team with complementary capabilities and a track record of success in executing transactions and accelerating value creation.

Akoya has completed 14 platform and 10 add-on investments across its portfolio in the last 5 years. We are actively seeking investment opportunities in the following sectors:

• Specialty Chemicals – Industrial Products and Distribution
• Consumer Foods and Products
• Professional Information Services

Ideal Target Company Characteristics:

• $20 million to $150 million of sales
• $3 million or greater of EBITDA
• Strong, niche position in a growing market
• Differentiated technology
• Family held, owner/operator run, corporate carve-outs
• Management that wants to remain in the business and reinvest

Contact Us

If you know of a company that fits this profile, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss it with you. Please contact Lucas Wrona at (312) 546-8306 (lwrona@akoyacapital.com).

To contact Jim Bland directly – jbland@akoyacapital.com or 312-546-8301.