John Kispert

Executive Chairman

2019 - Current

Board Member

2018

Board Member

2022

Founder and Managing Director

2016

Boutique consulting firm focused on providing strategic and financial advice on M&A, sales, divestitures, and private equity business development. Clients include leading TMT private equity sponsors, activist investors, public and private company boards, emerging growth companies, family-owned or entrepreneur-led businesses.

Board Member

2022 - 2023

Chairman, Operating Committee | Chief Executive Officer (2009 - 2015)

2009 - 2015

► $100M to $2.5B Technology Turnaround Success < 5 yrs. ► Merged with Cypress Semiconductor – deal close: $2.5B (stock rise from $0.38 to $38.00) Recruited to drive aggressive turnaround, revitalize corporate strength, culture, and market leadership. Filed Chapter 11 protection and embarked on rapid financial and operational restructuring enabling company to quickly emerge from bankruptcy in 15 months. Paid off debts through successful IPO; returned to trading on NYSE by 2010.

President and COO

2005 - 2009

► Grew sales from $2B to $2.7B | Improved profitability 75% | Increased operating cash flow $320M to $550M | Expanded market share 59% to 68% | Introduced 30 new products in 6 new markets | Improved worldwide customer satisfaction by 20% Implemented numerous strategic initiatives, multiple acquisitions, new global facilities, and industry-leading products to successfully confront challenges of increasing manufacturing and services costs, shrinking markets, and tough competition.

Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

2000 - 2005

► Repeatedly selected as one of ‘America’s Top CFO’s’ & one of the’ Best Managed Companies’ in America (Forbes magazine & Institutional Investor) Directed financial functions, investor relations, legal, manufacturing, sales, customer service/support and operations. Maintained gross margins through industry downturn, improving cash flow through strict spending reductions, controls, and downsizing. Recruited and hired new leadership team.

Vice President, Finance | Company Officer

2000 - 2000

Led 13 divisional finance and accounting organizations, investor relations, and 175 staff. Negotiated 3 exclusive tone-term supplier agreements key to company’s IP position. Maintained lowest tax rate in industry from 2000 – 2006.

Vice President, Operations – Wafer Inspection Group

1995 - 2000

Directed manufacturing, service, sales, and technical support for worldwide business growing from $500M to $1B – company’s largest business unit. Orchestrated complex restructuring and unification of 3 operations following 1997 merger of KLA and Tencor and further solidified unit’s market leadership while improving product development, quality, service, and process efficiency.