An Interview with Robert Berman, Acquisitions & Turnarounds expert, Toronto
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Robert’s Linkedin Profile Robert’s “Business Buyer’s Manual” |
Yaron Bazaz: Hi Robert, please tell us a little about yourself
Robert Berman: “Hi Yaron, I’m a born and bred Canadian and proud of it. I was lucky enough to receive my business education in two very dynamic companies. The Plessey Company which was headquartered in the UK and Rockwell International in the US. I originally joined Plessey in their sales department, but not long afterward moved into their acquisition and special operations group.
Plessey was a conglomerate of more than 80 companies with manufacturing plants in 56 countries. The product lines were very broad; telecoms, aerospace, electronic components, sewage pipe, consumer electronics and military electronics just to name a few. The acquisition and special operations group at Plessey had the total acquisition mandate, from finding potential acquisitions, negotiating terms, due diligence, and integration. As well, the group was the corporate trouble shooters, coming in to support operations that were having problems in any area, marketing, production, accounting and human resources. If a Plessey operation, anywhere in the world, lost a senior staff member due to sickness or resignation, someone from the special operations group would be installed as the interim manager.
