Nick Leopard is the Founder and CEO of Accordion, an AI and data-powered financial consulting firm focused on private equity. Since founding Accordion in 2009, Nick has grown the firm to be private equity’s value creation partner, with offerings spanning the modern CFO’s agenda end-to-end. Accordion is also a destination for top-tier talent, as Nick’s relentless mission of “a better way to work in finance” has fostered a people-first culture that breeds best-in-class client outcomes.
Nick started Accordion at the age of 29 in a small New York City office. Guided by a Founder’s Mentality leadership mantra, he’s grown the firm organically and through strategic data, technology, and AI-related acquisitions to 11 offices and 1600 people – serving a global private equity community that spans the US, Europe, Asia, and Canada.
Nick has gained a reputation as a unique voice at the intersection of private equity and the office of the CFO. His perspective is highly coveted and his regular contributions to Forbes have a large and dedicated readership. Nick has also been repeatedly featured in leading publications and broadcast outlets like The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Bloomberg, and CNBC.
Before founding Accordion, Nick was part of the investment team of mezzanine debt fund, BHC Interim Funding. Prior to BHC, he was a member of the FIG Investment Banking Department of Bear, Stearns & Co. LLC. Nick started his career at CapitalSource Finance.
Nick graduated from Saint Joseph’s University with a BS in Finance from the Haub School of Business.