AlixPartners, the global advisory firm, announced today that Simon Freakley has been appointed Co-CEO alongside the current CEO Fred Crawford. They will work together in this role until 1 January 2016 at which time Simon Freakley will become sole CEO of AlixPartners. Fred Crawford will take on a new role within the firm and remain a member of the Board.Simon Freakley joined the firm as a Managing Director in February 2015 when AlixPartners acquired Zolfo Cooper Europe, where Simon had been CEO for seven years. Zolfo Cooper Europe was a leading independent provider of advisory and restructuring services. Previously he had been Global CEO of Kroll Inc, based in New York, from 2004-2008.
Fred Crawford, Current CEO, announced,
“I am delighted that we are appointing Simon, initially as my partner in this role, and shortly to lead the firm. I have been CEO for eight of the 11 years that I have been with the firm and, from a personal perspective, now is the right time for me to pass on the leadership baton while continuing to serve my colleagues and our clients as an active Managing Director and member of the Board. AlixPartners is a very special place to be and I have a deep belief and commitment to the work that we do and the way our people deliver it.
I got to know Simon well through the process to acquire Zolfo Cooper Europe and since he joined the firm I have been impressed by his strategic thinking, operational insight, and empathic approach to building relationships. I look forward to working closely with him during these next few months and have no doubt that he will be a highly effective leader of our business.”
Simon Freakley said,
“I am delighted and honored to take on this role. I had long admired AlixPartners before our firms came together, and since joining I have been struck by the depth of capability, ambition, and client commitment that exists throughout the firm.
Fred has been an outstanding CEO and this will be a great opportunity to work even more closely with him during our transitional period and beyond. AlixPartners is an extraordinary firm with a bright future and I look forward to what our people and our clients will be able to achieve as we create the next chapter together.”
Chris Stadler, Managing Partner at CVC Capital Partners commented,
“On behalf of the AlixPartners’ Board, I would like to thank Fred for all that he has done as CEO and commend him for the growth and success which the firm has enjoyed under his leadership. We believe that we have chosen an outstanding executive in Simon to succeed him and we look forward to supporting him during this period of transition and in his new role.”
Simon Freakley:
– Since 2015, Managing Director of AlixPartners, EMEA Business Unit Leader, London-based
– 30 years leadership experience: business turnaround, strategic consulting, and mediation in the development and implementation of business recovery strategies in large and high-profile turnaround cases, acting as chief restructuring officer and stakeholder management.
– Previous CEO roles: CEO Zolfo Cooper Europe (London, 2008-2015); Global CEO of Kroll Inc (New York, 2004-2008) 65 offices in 33 countries generating an annual turnover of $1 billion
Client-serving highlights:
– Currently chief restructuring officer of Stemcor, the world’s largest global independent steel trader, whose turnover exceeds GBP5 billion and which has a network of offices in 45 countries. The engagement involves the development and implementation of a financial and operational restructuring of the group.
– Chief restructuring officer of hibu plc (formerly, Yell), a UK listed international provider of print and digital directory services, supporting management in the negotiation and restructuring of its indebtedness of GBP2.2 billion.
– Chief restructuring officer of Bank SNORAS, Lithuania’s largest national bank, by overseeing stabilization of the bank’s liquidity position and managing day-to-day operations while providing sufficient breathing space to undertake analysis of the financial situation and the development of restructuring options, including recapitalization, balance sheet reconstitution, and insolvency.
– Lead advisor to the board of a leading global tier 2 automotive parts manufacturer in the company’s financial restructuring of $180 million in debt. The work involved negotiation of a debt restructuring and the development of a reorganization plan with the company’s lenders.
– Lead administrator to the Federal-Mogul Company in one of the largest cross-border restructuring proceedings in history. The Federal-Mogul company consists of 135 UK companies and is a leading global manufacturer of automotive parts, operating primarily in the United States and Europe.
Community roles:
– Current: Chairman Dulwich Picture Gallery, Grange Park Opera and London Music Masters
– Past: Board member of New York City Ballet, English National Ballet, Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington D.C.
About AlixPartners
AlixPartners is a leading global business advisory firm of results-oriented professionals who specialize in creating value and restoring performance at every stage of the business lifecycle. AlixPartners people thrive on the ability to make a difference in high-impact situations and deliver sustainable, bottom-line results. The firm’s expertise covers a wide range of businesses and industries whether they are healthy, challenged, or distressed. Since 1981, the business has taken a unique, small-team, action-oriented approach to helping corporate boards and management, law firms, investment banks and investors respond to critical business issues.
