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Wen Rittsteuer

Wen Rittsteuer

Wen is a Managing Director with nearly three decades of financial and operational experience working with underperforming and financially distressed companies as well as those undergoing change or growth. She has successfully executed the performance improvement, value creation, merger integration, financial stand-up, EBITDA enhancement, restructuring, recapitalization and turnaround of companies in various industries ranging from $100 million to $4 billion in revenue.

Prior to joining Accordion, Wen held various executive management roles including Interim roles in crisis situations, carve-outs, and merger integrations. Most recently, she served as interim CFO of a start-up company experiencing tight cash flow with limited financial reporting and inadequate processes and procedures. Wen also served as a corporate officer as Treasurer for a large retailer with over $6 billion in sales and more than 300 stores. She led the Finance group with oversight for Financial Analysis & Planning, Treasury, Capital Planning and Pension. Her contributions resulted in a significant improvement in working capital and the closure of approximately 100 unprofitable retail locations.

Currently, Wen works with private equity portfolio companies to achieve greater returns at every stage of the investment cycle. She assists with the identification and execution of synergies and EBITDA enhancing opportunities to increase enterprise value, and provides the necessary leadership and cadence for companies looking to grow through acquisitions to drive the integration process and minimize business disruption. She also leads the financial standup in carve-out transactions and is experienced in customer profitability and SKU rationalization, day 1 readiness, 100-day planning and post-merger integration execution.

Wen is a seasoned restructuring and turnaround professional – having advised senior lenders and assisting companies facing financial and operational challenges. She provides expert leadership and support for the development of actionable strategies and implementation of required changes to improve performance and maximize value. Wen has significant experience in cash flow management and forecasting, business plan review, budgeting, DIP financing, liquidation analysis, and in-court and out-of-court restructurings.

Wen’s professional experience is highly diverse and extensive – having completed more than 40 engagements and worked with over 70 companies. In addition to advisory and corporate management, she has lending, workout and portfolio management experience.

Wen graduated from DePaul University with a M.B.A and from Michigan State University with a B.A. in Finance. She is a Certified Turnaround Professional (CTP) and Certified Insolvency and Certified Insolvency & Restructuring Advisor (CIRA).

“Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence, and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.” – Sheryl Sandberg

Something You Should Know

  • Learned the hard way that “cash is king” at the age of 15 managing a family business
  • Participated in a sailing regatta in the BVI as part of the Emirates Airline crew
  • Born on an island, work on an island and live on an island (not technically)

Noteworthy

  • Authored and co-authored thought leadership articles
  • Certifications include CTP and CIRA
  • Founding member of nonprofit organization operating for more than 30 years