February 21, 2023
Consensus Announces Formation of
Consensus Strategic Advisors

Boston, MA - Consumer-focused investment banking boutique Consensus announced today the launching of Consensus Strategic Advisors (“CSA”), a new strategic initiative designed to provide our clients with deeper, more specialized knowledge of the consumer industry.

CSA is comprised of former C-level executives in merchandising, operations and marketing from the consumer, food and agriculture industries who will support our clients’ transactional and non-transactional needs by assisting with due diligence, business planning, data analytics and operational and supply chain strategies. Members of the CSA will participate in Consensus’s core transactional activities where appropriate to add critical operating perspective and will be available for consulting services and board of director roles.

CSA's initial members are:

  • Richard Barry: former Global Chief Merchant of Toys ‘R Us and Babies ‘R Us and founding CEO of Tru Kids Brands

  • Peter Cameron: former CEO of Lenox, Waterford Wedgewood, All-Clad and Farberware

  • Peter Fader, PhD: The Frances and Pei-Yuan Chia Professor of Marketing at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania; co-founder of data analytics firm Theta

  • Michael Fine: top-level executive at several footwear and apparel companies including Payless ShoeSource, Edison Brothers and J. Baker

  • Joe Hartsig: Consumer products goods and retailer executive leader with over 30+ years of experience, including C-level experience at Walgreens, Walmart and Bed & Bath Beyond

  • Michelle Israel: formerly SVP/GMM at Macy’s with extensive senior leadership roles at Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s including building and leading the Off-Price business at Macy’s Backstage and Bloomingdale’s Outlets

  • Michael Jeppesen: most recently President, Global Operations of Wolverine Worldwide

  • Daniel Mawicke: former CEO of Richemont North America

  • Daniel McCarthy, PhD: Assistant Professor of Marketing at Emory University's Goizueta School of Business; co-founder of data analytics firm Theta

  • John Moretz: Chairman and CEO of Gold Toe Moretz hosiery business and experienced licensing consultant, including working with Kathy Ireland Worldwide and John Elway among others

  • Michael Newbold: previously led corporate development, strategy and M&A for C&S Wholesale Grocers

  • Charles Stanley: Luxury Executive with 30+ years of experience, recently President De Beers Brands North America and Vice President Harry Winston

Consensus CEO Michael O’Hara commented, “The introduction of the CSA deepens Consensus’s commitment to our clients to provide best-in-breed sector advice and service. The CSA members are an elite group of professionals whose experience will add value to our transactional activity. Beyond that, we are excited to offer up their unique talents and expertise on non-transactional projects to help our clients’ businesses improve. Over time, we expect to add other members to the CSA team to deepen our utility in every sector of the consumer industry.”

About Consensus: Consensus is a boutique investment banking and financial advisory firm with offices in Boston and New York and throughout the world through our membership in The Terra Alliance. Consensus focuses exclusively on consumer-facing and agricultural products businesses. Consensus professionals have decades of relevant industry experience representing and advising companies, entrepreneurs, investors, creditors, and lenders in financial and brand equity transactions. We advise our clients in mergers and acquisition and capital raising transactions. Additionally, through our analytical & valuation services group, we provide business and intellectual property valuation services, restructuring advisory and due diligence services. We publish The Weekly Consensus, a weekly roundup of the major news stories impacting the consumer segment, and we host The Consensus Great Brand Show, which brings together the emerging brands that are shaping the future of our industry and the capital and other resources that will enable their success.