Marakon Associates, a leading consultancy to some of the
world's best-known companies, today announced the promotion of five
partners to the position of managing partner, nearly doubling its
senior leadership team from seven to 12.
The new managing partners, from three of Marakon's offices, are: Randy DeGeer (Chicago), Ken Worzel (New York) and Mike Baxter, Richard Kibble and Neal Kissel (London).
"This represents a big step for us as a firm," said Marakon Chief Executive Ken Favaro. "It is a strong sign of confidence in our future growth and a major investment in our growth and our people. Each of these individuals has demonstrated an ability to develop and maintain close advisory relationships at the very highest levels of Global 500 companies."
Following are details on each new managing partner:
Randy DeGeer joined Marakon in 1992 and helped establish the firm's Chicago office in 1996. He has worked with clients to address organizational and leadership challenges in a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, aluminum processing, packaging, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, retailing, consumer products, defense, chemicals and automotive parts. Recently, he helped combine two global aluminum manufacturers by defining new strategies for the merged businesses and assisting with their management teams' integration. DeGeer leads internal operations for Marakon's North American offices and manages the firm's ongoing relationship with the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, where the firm provides regular pro bono advisory support to the Dean. "Randy's high level of initiative has helped him form and build some of our largest client relationships, and he is a strong leader of our Chicago office," said Favaro. DeGeer holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan and an M.B.A. from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining Marakon, he worked for two years as an analyst in the real estate department of Goldman Sachs & Co. in New York.
Ken Worzel joined Marakon in 1992. He has worked extensively in the US and Europe with clients in pharmaceuticals, retailing, media and financial services. Worzel has advised senior executives on issues ranging from corporate strategy and large-scale transformation to customer value growth and the design of decision-making and performance management processes. Recently, he helped a global pharma giant tackle a wide variety of issues, including R&D productivity, product market strategies, corporate planning and budgeting, alliance management and corporate strategy. In addition to his client work, Worzel is the leader of the firm's New York office and previously helped establish the firm's San Francisco office. Favaro explained: "Ken is truly a role model in client delivery and impact, and has helped transform one of the world's largest pharma companies into an industry exemplar." He has co-authored a number of articles focused on innovation and marketing effectiveness in the pharmaceutical industry. Worzel holds a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from Yale University and an M.B.A. from Wharton (Palmer Scholar). Prior to joining Marakon, he worked at Metropolitan Life in New York, where he developed and implemented quantitative investment strategies.
Mike Baxter joined the firm in 1989. He has advised clients on a broad range of issues, including organic growth, productivity, organizational structure, management processes and corporate strategy. His industry experience includes financial services, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and retailing throughout Europe and North America. Baxter's recent work has involved advising a leading European financial institution on group-wide reorganization, helping a large FMCG company significantly improve productivity group-wide and helping a UK financial institution develop a new customer-focused offer and strategy. Commented Favaro: "Mike's business development energy and initiative have been outstanding. He has played a major role in bringing in new clients in Spain and Belgium and is looking to support the growth of other European clients." In addition to his client work, Baxter is head of the firm's organic growth practice and manages Marakon's internal UK and Asia operations. He holds a B.A. in Modern History from Oxford University and an M.B.A. from Wharton.
Richard Kibble joined Marakon in 1990. He has worked with clients in the UK, Europe and the Americas across multiple industries, including financial services, consumer products, wines/spirits, retail and pharmaceuticals. His particular areas of interest are large-scale change management and linking people development to performance. Recently, Kibble helped the board of a global financial services company develop and roll out new strategies, management processes and leadership capabilities to establish a culture focused on delivering consistently superior financial performance. "His client capabilities have been exemplary, and he has served as a true advisor to many executives," said Favaro. Kibble is also a member of the firm's Global Talent Team, working with the Chief Talent Officer to lead firm-wide people initiatives. Outside the firm, he is actively involved with the UK nonprofit Business in the Community. Kibble graduated from New College, Oxford University, with a B.A. in Mathematics.
Neal Kissel joined Marakon in 1994. He has advised clients in the Americas, Asia and Europe on issues ranging from establishing executive agendas and overcoming organizational barriers to entering new markets and improving capital management processes. His industry experience spans consumer products, natural resources and financial services. Recently, Kissel worked with a global energy company to accelerate profitable organic growth through greater marketing effectiveness. In addition to his client work, he heads the firm's Global Training Team. "Neal has brought endless enthusiasm and energy to establishing and developing client relationships," commented Favaro. Outside of the firm, Kissel is a member of Rotary International and the American Bar Association. He also sits on the board of Two Leaves and a Bud, a tea company. Prior to joining Marakon, Kissel worked as an attorney and as a consultant for Andersen Consulting. He also spent several years as a professional free-style competitive skier in Aspen. He holds a B.Ph. from Miami University in Ohio (Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude), a J.D. from Stanford Law School and was a Rotary Fellow at the Australian Graduate School of Management.
For further information including photos, contact Dave Fondiller at +1 212 377-5016 or dfondiller@marakon.com.
About Marakon Associates:
Marakon Associates is an international management consulting firm that works with some of the world's best-known companies on the issues that most drive their performance and long-term value. The Economist has called it "a consultancy that has advised some of the world's most consistently successful companies." Marakon has offices in New York, London, Singapore, Chicago and San Francisco.
The new managing partners, from three of Marakon's offices, are: Randy DeGeer (Chicago), Ken Worzel (New York) and Mike Baxter, Richard Kibble and Neal Kissel (London).
"This represents a big step for us as a firm," said Marakon Chief Executive Ken Favaro. "It is a strong sign of confidence in our future growth and a major investment in our growth and our people. Each of these individuals has demonstrated an ability to develop and maintain close advisory relationships at the very highest levels of Global 500 companies."
Following are details on each new managing partner:
Randy DeGeer joined Marakon in 1992 and helped establish the firm's Chicago office in 1996. He has worked with clients to address organizational and leadership challenges in a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, aluminum processing, packaging, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, retailing, consumer products, defense, chemicals and automotive parts. Recently, he helped combine two global aluminum manufacturers by defining new strategies for the merged businesses and assisting with their management teams' integration. DeGeer leads internal operations for Marakon's North American offices and manages the firm's ongoing relationship with the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, where the firm provides regular pro bono advisory support to the Dean. "Randy's high level of initiative has helped him form and build some of our largest client relationships, and he is a strong leader of our Chicago office," said Favaro. DeGeer holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan and an M.B.A. from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining Marakon, he worked for two years as an analyst in the real estate department of Goldman Sachs & Co. in New York.
Ken Worzel joined Marakon in 1992. He has worked extensively in the US and Europe with clients in pharmaceuticals, retailing, media and financial services. Worzel has advised senior executives on issues ranging from corporate strategy and large-scale transformation to customer value growth and the design of decision-making and performance management processes. Recently, he helped a global pharma giant tackle a wide variety of issues, including R&D productivity, product market strategies, corporate planning and budgeting, alliance management and corporate strategy. In addition to his client work, Worzel is the leader of the firm's New York office and previously helped establish the firm's San Francisco office. Favaro explained: "Ken is truly a role model in client delivery and impact, and has helped transform one of the world's largest pharma companies into an industry exemplar." He has co-authored a number of articles focused on innovation and marketing effectiveness in the pharmaceutical industry. Worzel holds a B.A. in Economics and Political Science from Yale University and an M.B.A. from Wharton (Palmer Scholar). Prior to joining Marakon, he worked at Metropolitan Life in New York, where he developed and implemented quantitative investment strategies.
Mike Baxter joined the firm in 1989. He has advised clients on a broad range of issues, including organic growth, productivity, organizational structure, management processes and corporate strategy. His industry experience includes financial services, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and retailing throughout Europe and North America. Baxter's recent work has involved advising a leading European financial institution on group-wide reorganization, helping a large FMCG company significantly improve productivity group-wide and helping a UK financial institution develop a new customer-focused offer and strategy. Commented Favaro: "Mike's business development energy and initiative have been outstanding. He has played a major role in bringing in new clients in Spain and Belgium and is looking to support the growth of other European clients." In addition to his client work, Baxter is head of the firm's organic growth practice and manages Marakon's internal UK and Asia operations. He holds a B.A. in Modern History from Oxford University and an M.B.A. from Wharton.
Richard Kibble joined Marakon in 1990. He has worked with clients in the UK, Europe and the Americas across multiple industries, including financial services, consumer products, wines/spirits, retail and pharmaceuticals. His particular areas of interest are large-scale change management and linking people development to performance. Recently, Kibble helped the board of a global financial services company develop and roll out new strategies, management processes and leadership capabilities to establish a culture focused on delivering consistently superior financial performance. "His client capabilities have been exemplary, and he has served as a true advisor to many executives," said Favaro. Kibble is also a member of the firm's Global Talent Team, working with the Chief Talent Officer to lead firm-wide people initiatives. Outside the firm, he is actively involved with the UK nonprofit Business in the Community. Kibble graduated from New College, Oxford University, with a B.A. in Mathematics.
Neal Kissel joined Marakon in 1994. He has advised clients in the Americas, Asia and Europe on issues ranging from establishing executive agendas and overcoming organizational barriers to entering new markets and improving capital management processes. His industry experience spans consumer products, natural resources and financial services. Recently, Kissel worked with a global energy company to accelerate profitable organic growth through greater marketing effectiveness. In addition to his client work, he heads the firm's Global Training Team. "Neal has brought endless enthusiasm and energy to establishing and developing client relationships," commented Favaro. Outside of the firm, Kissel is a member of Rotary International and the American Bar Association. He also sits on the board of Two Leaves and a Bud, a tea company. Prior to joining Marakon, Kissel worked as an attorney and as a consultant for Andersen Consulting. He also spent several years as a professional free-style competitive skier in Aspen. He holds a B.Ph. from Miami University in Ohio (Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude), a J.D. from Stanford Law School and was a Rotary Fellow at the Australian Graduate School of Management.
For further information including photos, contact Dave Fondiller at +1 212 377-5016 or dfondiller@marakon.com.
About Marakon Associates:
Marakon Associates is an international management consulting firm that works with some of the world's best-known companies on the issues that most drive their performance and long-term value. The Economist has called it "a consultancy that has advised some of the world's most consistently successful companies." Marakon has offices in New York, London, Singapore, Chicago and San Francisco.
© 2005 Business Wire