Michael Beetz

Biography

Michael Beetz is a Senior Director with Alvarez & Marsal Private Equity Services in Chicago. He specializes in operational diligence, transition planning, corporate strategy and business planning, growth programs and sales force effectiveness, and development, as well as execution of post-acquisition performance improvement programs.He has advised private equity sponsors, strategic buyers, and corporate executives in the retail, insurance, financial services, consumer packaged goods, and professional services industries. In addition, he has held multiple interim management positions as an operating executive.Most recently, he assisted a PE firm with the acquisition of a $400 million off-price retailer. Initially, he led an extensive operational diligence and post-acquisition planning effort. Post-close, he served as interim VP, Merchandise Planning & Allocation to reorganize the underperforming department. He implemented advanced merchandise and assortment planning capabilities, allocation mechanisms, as well as standardized markdown protocols and tools. Supporting a London-based private equity sponsor, he served on the firm’s deal-team to evaluate, structure and plan transactions for branded retail apparel companies in the U.S. and Europe. His responsibilities included development and financial evaluation of alternative transaction structures, development and evaluation of financial and operational post-acquisition improvement plans, and support of equity and debt fund-raising activities.Assisting a $350 million wholesale and retail apparel company, Mr. Beetz led a diligence and pre-acquisition planning effort, and served as interim Chief of Staff post-close to manage the100-day post-acquisition performance improvement program. The company emerged on Day One post-close of the 363 transaction with a 38 percent reduction in operating cost structure, and by Day 60 achieved a 21 percent reduction in outstanding principle for the ABL facility.Supporting a $900 million specialty paper maker, he established a set of strategic initiatives to realize shareholder growth and profit expectations, designed and transitioned the leadership team to a new organization structure, and implemented a formal program management function within the company to lead execution of the initiative portfolio, monitor risk and results, and course-correct as needed. Assisting a Fortune 100 financial services company, Mr. Beetz developed and implemented a growth strategy to increase underwriting and fee revenue for a $2.2 billion extended warranty business unit. The 18-month project focused on achieving profitable, diversified growth of $650 million through penetration of new customer segments with a refined portfolio of products, as well as the design and build of a new captive sales force and full sales and sales support capabilities to enable the strategy.Mr. Beetz earned a degree in finance, with emphasis on accounting and economics from The University of Iowa. He attended executive leadership training at Yale Universit, and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.

Research Interest

Michael Beetz  Specializes in operational diligence, transition planning, corporate strategy and business planning, growth programs and sales force effectiveness, and development. and advises on the execution of post-acquisition performance improvement programs. Works with private equity sponsors, strategic buyers and corporate executives in the retail, insurance, financial services, consumer packaged goods and professional services industries