Blitstein LLC is comprised of seasoned professionals who have excelled throughout their respective careers. In aggregate, our senior leadership has over 75 years of experience across a broad range of industries and economic cycles.
Gerald A. Blitstein
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Gerald Blitstein has had the unique career opportunities to serve in advisory capacities and senior operational roles. He has been an investment banker for over 20 years, representing publicly held companies as well as family-owned businesses. In addition, he was the Chief Financial Officer of a NYSE traded company.
Prior to establishing Blitstein LLC, Mr. Blitstein served as Managing Director of Mergers and Acquisitions at First Albany Capital, where he was responsible for new business efforts in the industrial growth sector. Mr. Blitstein was also Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Safeguard Scientifics where he was responsible for raising over $600 million in both the public and private markets, establishing institutional awareness of the firm, negotiating final terms of acquisitions/divestitures, interfacing with audit and special committees and overseeing the financial reporting for over 200 portfolio companies. Mr. Blitstein was recruited to Safeguard from PaineWebber Incorporated, where he spent more than thirteen years. At PaineWebber, Mr. Blitstein served in multiple capacities, including Managing Director of Equity Derivatives Sales and Trading, Managing Director/Head of Reengineering, Executive Assistant to the Chairman, and First Vice President/Mergers and Acquisitions. He was responsible for strategy, proprietary investments, and the negotiation/integration of the Kidder Peabody Incorporated acquisition. Mr. Blitstein was also an active member of the firm’s capital commitment committees.
B.S., Wharton School of Finance − University of Pennsylvania
M.B.A., University of Chicago
Dieter Eisinger
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Mr. Eisinger served as the Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) for NYSE Euronext and Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for NYSE Euronext’s Technology division, during which time he led the merger integration office for the NYSE Arca and NYSE Euronext mergers as well as all post merger integration and efficiency programs at the NYSE during his 8+ year tenure.
Prior to joining the NYSE, Mr. Eisinger was Practice Director Financial Services for CSC's Consulting Group. Mr. Eisinger also spent over a decade as a consultant and partner with Bain & Company and CSC Index, advising companies in the global banking, capital markets, insurance, FinTech and manufacturing industries on strategic, M&A and operational topics. He began his career as a Marketing & Sales Manager for Philips Consumer Electronics in Vienna, Austria. He also jointly ran a family food processing business in Austria.
Mr. Eisinger’s professional experience spans over two decades, evenly acquired across the US and European cultures.
Ph.D. and M.A. in Economics from Vienna University of Economics
M.B.A. from New York University, Stern School of Business.
Rhea Finkelstein
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Rhea Finkelstein brings to Blitstein LLC a strong financial and analytical background, having served as the Co-CFO of the Chappaqua School Foundation for four years. Ms. Finkelstein has an extensive real estate background having worked previously within the real estate divisions of both Morgan Grenfell and Michael Laurie and Partners, working on acquisitions, financings and sales of premier properties across the U.S.
BS, The Wharton School of Finance, University of Pennsylvania
MBA, Columbia University
Erik Hansell
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Erik Hansell brings to Blitstein LLC extensive experience in scaling venture-backed businesses. Serving in both advisory and operational roles at high-growth companies under the Primary Venture Partners portfolio umbrella, Erik has played a pivotal role in aligning firm operations with annual goals, fostering key partnerships, and improving operational KPI's. Erik also spent several years at Box Inc., where he was responsible for go-to-market products and product launches. His earlier experience at Deloitte Consulting LLP further showcases his expertise in business strategy, where he made notable contributions in various sectors, including a natural gas midstream business and a Fortune 500 food distributor.
BA, Claremont McKenna College
MBA, Wharton School of Finance - University of Pennsylvania
Randye Kaplan
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Randye Kaplan brings to Blitstein LLC a strong operational and financial services foundation. Prior to joining Blitstein LLC, Ms. Kaplan was the Chief Financial Officer of OXO International, an innovative consumer products company. Ms. Kaplan spent several years at Prudential-Bache, where she advised buyers and sellers on mergers and acquisitions transactions. Ms. Kaplan began her career with Arthur Andersen & Company, as a Certified Public Accountant.
B.S., State University of New York at Albany
M.B.A., University of Chicago
C.P.A., New York State | C.F.P.
Bruce Keeling
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Bruce Keeling has nearly 20 years of Wall Street and accounting experience with an emphasis on strategic development. Mr. Keeling brings to Blitstein LLC an in-depth knowledge of mergers and acquisitions, strategic development, capital raising and a solid public accounting background.
Prior to joining Blitstein LLC, Mr. Keeling was Chief Financial Officer of Section 101, an entertainment technology company providing a web-publishing platform to entertainers. At Section 101, Mr. Keeling was responsible for all finance, accounting and strategic development of the company. Before Section 101, Mr. Keeling was Managing Director of Mergers and Acquisitions at Broadpoint Capital. He also held other investment banking positions at Robertson Stephens and PaineWebber Incorporated. Mr. Keeling began his career with Ernst & Young LLP, as a Certified Public Accountant.
B.S. (in Accounting), University of Southern California
MAcc. (in Tax), University of Southern California
M.B.A., Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration
David Reed
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David Reed has over 30 years of investment banking experience, primarily as a mergers and acquisitions specialist. His core expertise has been working with middle market companies as they evaluate and pursue strategic alternatives; for the last dozen years, the significant majority of his focus has been in the healthcare space.
Prior to affiliating with Blitstein LLC, Mr. Reed served as Managing Director of Healthcare Investment Banking at Cantor Fitzgerald (where he led the firm’s M&A and private capital raising efforts) and Gleacher & Company (previously known as First Albany Capital). While at First Albany, Mr. Reed ran both the Mergers & Acquisitions Group as well as the Investment Banking Division. Mr. Reed joined First Albany from Robertson Stephens, where he served as Managing Director and Co-Head of East Coast Mergers & Acquisitions. Mr. Reed spent fifteen years at Paine Webber Incorporated, acting as Head of the Mergers & Acquisitions Group for six years. During his tenure as Group Head, the firm completed over 300 transactions with an aggregate value of $77 billion. As Head of the firm’s Fairness Opinion Review Committee, he oversaw the preparation and delivery of over 100 fairness opinions.
A.B. Princeton University
M.B.A. Columbia University
Michael Turner
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Michael Turner has over twenty-three years of Wall Street experience. Mr. Turner brings to Blitstein LLC an in-depth knowledge of the fixed income capital markets, strong institutional relationships and a solid public accounting background. Prior to joining Blitstein LLC, Mr. Turner was a Manager of Hedge Fund Sales at Bank of America Securities. He also held senior positions at Man Securities, Refco Securities, Chase Securities and Dean Witter Reynolds. Mr. Turner began his career with Arthur Anderson & Co., as a Certified Public Accountant.
B.S., State University of New York at Albany
M.B.A., Leonard N. Stern School, New York University
C.P.A., New York State