Blackford Capital’s John Gutmann Recognized with Emerging Leaders Award by The M&A Advisor

Emerging Leaders Award recipients are young professionals, under the age of 40, who are making groundbreaking contributions to the fields of M&A, corporate finance and restructuring

Blackford Capital, a leading lower middle market private equity firm, is pleased to announce that Senior Analyst John Gutmann has been named a winner of the 15th Annual Emerging Leaders Award by The M&A Advisor.  Recipients of the 2024 award will be recognized at the Leadership in Dealership Summit September 23 –24, 2024 in New York City.

“We are extremely proud of John for being recognized as an Emerging Leader in the mergers and acquisitions space. His insights, thoroughness, and demeanor with founders, service providers, investors and our own team are seasoned well beyond his years,” said Martin Stein, Blackford Capital’s founder and managing director. “Since his first day as an intern, John has leveraged an impressive and comprehensive understanding of private equity dynamics—financial analysis, deal sourcing and deal execution—to identify, evaluate, and execute value-driven investments in the lower middle market. He has contributed significantly to Blackford’s achievements and market standing.”

John joined Blackford Capital full-time in January 2022 after completing three internships with the firm the prior year. In his short tenure, John has become instrumental in the firm’s deal sourcing and deal diligence activities, and in the overall execution of transactions. Working directly with founders, investors and Blackford’s Managing Directors, John continues to expand his role in the execution of deal outreach and sourcing activities. He is responsible for execution of acquisitions including financial modeling and analysis, internal and third-party due diligence management, and supporting capital raise activities.

“I am honored, personally and professionally, to be recognized by The M&A Advisor and included among this impressive group of 2024 Emerging Leaders award recipients. This recognition is a testament to the leadership and support I have received since joining the Blackford Capital team,” said Gutmann. “I am grateful to Blackford Capital’s Founder and Managing Director Martin Stein, Managing Director Jeff Johnson, and our entire team for setting me up for success, mentoring and empowering me. I aspire to give the same level of guidance, mentorship, and inspiration which I have received throughout my time at Blackford Capital and during my formative colleagiate years, when I was a GVSU student. It brings me great joy to give back to Grand Valley State University students and the school’s Investment Portfolio Organization, both of which have provided me with the tools to succeed in my career.”

For more information, and for a detailed list of the Award Winners for the 15th Annual Emerging Leaders Awards, please click here.

The M&A Advisor

Established in 1998, The M&A Advisor offers expertise and knowledge in mergers and acquisitions. It is known as the leading global organization for experts in M&A, restructuring, and corporate finance, providing a full spectrum of interrelated services. To learn more, please visit our website- www.maadvisor.com or contact us at +1 (212) 951-1550