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Our greatest strength is our people. Though a small
firm, we have a “bench” both broad and
deep from the standpoint of experience, knowledge and
perspective. We enjoy bringing all of these resources
to bear on each assignment.
Click on the person's name to read about his background.
As always, we are proud to offer references as
requested
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Charles M. Masson
Charles' latest operating role was serving as interim CEO of Maidenform, Inc., the women's intimate apparel manufacturer. During his eight months at Maidenform, Charles turned an operating loss to an operating profit, refinanced the Company's asset-based lender, negotiated terms with key suppliers, restructured a number of the Company's functional areas and systems, reorganized the Company's compensation scheme, and recruited a permanent CEO. Charles has also served as crisis CEO of a specialty steel fabricator. In this crisis assignment, Charles developed a revised business plan, down-sized approximately one-half of the Company's workforce to stem cash hemorrhaging, negotiated temporary relief from the Company's asset-based lender, developed a financial restructuring plan for unsecured debentures and trade creditors, and arranged the sale of the Company as an implementing transaction. Charles serves or has served on the Boards of Algoma Steel, Maidenform, Grand Union, Players International, Global Aqua - USA, ColorTile, Cadillac-Fairview and Griffin Gaming & Entertainment. Charles serves or has served on the Executive, Audit, Corporate Governance, Compensation, and/or Strategic Planning Committees of the foregoing. Prior to founding Masson & Company, Charles was a principal of McCloud Partners from 1993 through 1998. At McCloud Partners, Charles conducted private advisory work on behalf of a distressed investor client base. Charles' most notable assignment while at McCloud was serving as Chairman of the Board and CRO of Cadillac-Fairview from 1994 through 1995. As Chairman, he guided Cadillac through a CCAA proceeding in Ontario which resulted in the restructuring of Cadillac's C$7 billion debt and sale to an investor group. Cadillac's restructuring featured the simultaneous involvement of six distinct groups of financial interests, the Governments of Canada and Ontario, and litigation in Illinois. From 1979 through 1993, Charles was at Salomon Brothers Inc where he ran the firm's Financial Restructuring Group. He was involved in more than 60 out-of-court and Chapter 11 restructurings of public and private companies in a wide variety of industries. Charles received his B.A. from Colorado State University and has an M.B.A. from the Wharton School.
Charles M. Masson
Office Tel: 212 867.4005 ext. 203
E-Mail: cmasson@massonco.com
Home Tel: 212 734.0384
Benjamin C. Duster IV
Prior to joining Masson & Company, Ben was a Managing Director at Wachovia Securities from 1997 through 2001. While at Wachovia, Ben headed the Mergers & Acquisitions advisory business, focusing on middle-market companies, and was one of the founding members of Wachovia's investment banking business. He managed over 30 M&A transactions including, divestitures and controlled sales and various M&A-related advisory projects. From 1980 through 1997, Ben was at Salomon Brothers Inc. During his tenure there, Ben was an Associate in Salomon's proprietary Venture Capital Group and, later, a Vice President in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group. In the Venture Capital Group Ben focused on technology and emerging growth companies. In the M&A Group he specialized in bankruptcy reorganizations, financial restructurings and acquisitions of distressed companies. Ben received his B.A. from Yale University and has J.D. and M.B.A. degrees from Harvard University.
Benjamin C. Duster, IV
Office Tel: 212 867.4005 ext. 204
E-Mail: bduster@massonco.com
GA Tel: 404 668.3400
GA Fax: 404 691.8839
Hugh R. Rovit
Prior to joining Masson & Company, Hugh was COO/CFO at Best Manufacturing from 1998 through 2001. Best is a $155 million manufacturer and distributor of institutional service apparel and textiles. While at Best, Hugh was responsible for the day-to-day finance, administrative, operations and supply chain management functions including, in the latter case, foreign and domestic manufacturing, purchasing, production planning, warehousing and logistics. He consolidated selling divisions, domestic warehouses and manufacturing facilities, centralized purchasing and inventory management functions, converted a make-to-stock business to make-to-order, reduced working capital line usage to a seven-year low, reduced inventory by 15% and improved turns by 20%. From 1991 through 1998, Hugh was CFO of Royce Hosiery Mills, a $50 million manufacturer, marketer and distributor of men's and women's hosiery. From 1988 through 1991, he was Assistant to the Chairman of The Natori Company, a $25 million manufacturer and marketer of intimate apparel and accessories. From 1983 to 1985 and 1987 to 1988, Hugh was at Lehman Brothers where he divided his time between the Mergers & Acquisitions Department and the Financial Restructuring Group. Hugh received his B.A. from Dartmouth College and has an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School.
Hugh R. Rovit
Office Tel: 212 867.4005 ext. 205
Cell Tel: 917 873.2040
E-Mail: hrovit@massonco.com
Home Office Tel: 212 289.0020
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