Keeping Us Ahead of the Pack

Mark Dalton currently serves as Managing Principal at Halsey Lane Holdings LLC. His experience as a director on several corporate boards as a private equity sponsor and as leveraged finance and restructuring advisor led him to found Halsey Lane. Before founding Halsey Lane, Mark spent the last ten years as a private equity professional at Avenue Capital and Trimaran Capital. Before that, he spent 15 years responsible for leveraged finance, M&A and restructuring advisory at CIBC, Merrill Lynch and Kidder, Peabody.

Mark has board of director experience at Panavision, Medical Staffing Network Healthcare, Hyde Park Acquisition, Vertis Communications, Accuride Corporation, Standard Steel and FreightCar America. His hands-on deal structuring and negotiating skills contributed to Vertis Communications’ being recognized as 2008 “Turnaround Deal of the Year” by the Global M&A Network. Mark received a B.S. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

A prominent regulatory expert, Bob Kueppers has significant relationships with the SEC, PCAOB, Treasury, as well as both Committees and Members of Congress. His regulatory work on behalf of clients and the public accounting profession began in the mid-1980s long before such expertise became crucial for all public companies. As a CPA, senior audit partner and noted leader at Deloitte and of the accounting profession, Kueppers is an exceptionally qualified financial expert.

Bob’s clients have included global Fortune 100 companies (Boeing, General Motors, Best Buy, and Dow Chemical), in addition to many other public companies. He frequently handled high-profile client matters for public companies facing multi-year restatements, allegations of fraud, and investigations by the SEC and other agencies. His judgment and problem-solving skills were instrumental in achieving the best possible outcomes in these complex situations. His knowledge and guidance in these situations earned Bob the trust and confidence of his clients, their law firms, and the regulators.

Whether chairing an accounting group in turbulent times or leading high-profile nonprofits, Bob has a rare ability to break down and communicate the most complex issues. He is able to help any group reach consensus and rapidly achieve objectives. His work as an executive, leader, and director/chair of major nonprofits, enabled him to mentor dozens of high potential individuals.

While at Deloitte he was Deputy CEO, Vice Chairman, Managing Partner of Deloitte’s Center for Corporate Governance, US Leader of Regulatory & Public Policy, Deloitte’s Chief Risk Officer, the firm’s top Senior Technical Partner, and leader of its SEC Services & Independence group. In the mid-1990s, Kueppers was Executive Vice President & CFO of Plaid Clothing Group, Inc. a private company with public debt. In the mid-1980s Bob completed a two-year fellowship with the Chief Accountant of the SEC in Washington DC.

Partners at major accounting firms are required to retire at 60 or 62 depending on the firm. Upon his retirement last year Bob considered several full-time positions but decided to seek service on public boards. Precluded earlier from public boards as a Deloitte partner, Bob was active in non-profits, as director and often chair. The United Way of New York City is a special interest. Recruited by its CEO in 2010, Bob became Chair in 2012. He led the organization through a management change with a new CEO, a refreshed strategy, and improved performance. Other non-profits include the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management’s Board of Overseers, Member, now Chair (2007-present); SEC Historical Society, Founding Trustee, past President and Chair (1999-May 2015); Committee for Economic Development, Trustee and Executive Committee member (2012-present); Ira M. Millstein Center for Global Markets & Corporate Ownership, Columbia University, Advisory Board Member 2008-present); and, American Corporate Partners, a US veterans mentoring organization, Director (2011-2015).

Kueppers is a member of The Economic Club of New York, the Committee for Economic Development in Washington DC, and the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) where he is a designated Board Leadership Fellow.

Bob is frequently recognized for his contributions and accomplishments. For instance, May 10, 2016 was proclaimed “Robert J. Kueppers Day” in New York City by the Mayor in recognition of his leadership of the United Way of NYC. The University of Minnesota awarded Kueppers its Outstanding Achievement Award in 2012, the highest non-academic honor bestowed by the Board of Regents. The Center for Audit Quality in Washington DC dedicated its Boardroom to Kueppers in 2013 in recognition of his leadership. Bob was honored as one of the 100 Most Influential Professionals in the Boardroom in 2009, 2012, 2013, and 2014 by NACD.

Since retiring from Deloitte, Kueppers joined consulting firm Sage Partners LLC as a partner. Bob provides consulting services to clients, specializing in strategy and corporate governance. In addition, Bob is Senior Advisor to RIDGE-LANE LP, an advisory and merchant banking firm formed by financier Brad Lane and the Honorable Thomas J. Ridge. Bob is a member of the Advisory Board of Vivio Health, a health care start-up in California.

While Bob’s primary residence is in Sarasota, Florida, he splits his time between Florida and the New York area. He and his wife of 42 years have two sons. Bob is an avid fisherman, hiker, amateur musician, and wine collector.