Business Transformation and Analytics
Specializes in technology and creativity and the innovation that comes about when they are brought together.
Donald helps organizations navigate complex, cross-functional challenges and drive measurable, sustainable improvements by leveraging a unique blend of expertise in financial analysis, business transformation, and data-driven decision-making. He has served in multiple leadership roles, including SVP Finance Transformation, VP Finance Strategy, and Strategic Initiatives Project Lead in organizations such as Citi, Paramonut+, and the MTA, as well as the Principal of his own boutique consulting practice.
Career Highlights:
Strategy Transformation… working at the nexus of finance, technology, and operations to optimize business processes, integrate digital technologies, and improve financial management.
- Reduced FTE burden by 1,100 hours per year and significantly lessened regulatory risk by automating the firm’s forecasting model back-test calculation and reporting process.
- Saved $2.3 million/year through causal modeling of a critical role that typically had a 17% vacancy rate; structured a talent acquisition and retention strategy that improved time to hire by 18% and retention by 32%.
- Improved the quality and integration of the operational planning process – as well as the speed – by identifying the weaknesses, prioritizing needed changes, and executing the adjustments to streamline, simplify, and optimize the activity.
- Increased shop production by 12%, developed a production optimization and financial justification model in collaboration with engineering.
- Avoided excessive overtime utilization – led the development of a real-time information tool that analyzes accounting entry and budget information across business units to identify opportunities; big data analysis and visualization.
Corporate Development (M&A)… sourced and evaluated acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic investment. Tasks included: discount cash flow (NPV) & equity method valuations, coordination of outside support, and negotiation.
- Designed the 3-way $30 million capitalization structure that ensured creation of the Sundance Channel – a property that grew in value to $496 million (a 16-fold return), 12 years after launch.
Strategy… worked with Presidents and GMs, developing the overall strategy for the organization, managing strategic initiatives and projects, and transferring best practices across the organization.
- Extracted $54 million of value from an unprofitable, declining business. Recommended, structured, and assisted in negotiating the asset sale/marketing partnership, locking in a contractually guaranteed 5-year revenue stream.
Business Development… Sourced incremental revenue and strategic alliance opportunities.
- Within 1 year, designed and built out a scalable ‘fee-for-service’ business model that generated $1.5 million in fees, solidified strategic partnerships, and generated community support and interest.
- Brokered $50 million of hard asset acquisition transactions by urban entrepreneurs.