Ankura appoints Kevin Lavin as CEO
Management consultancy Ankura has appointed Kevin Lavin as its CEO, effective January 1, 2020. Lavin has more than 30 years of consulting experience, and previously served as the firm’s co-president.
Lavin succeeds Roger Carlile, who founded the firm in 2014. Carlile will move on to serve as non-executive chairman of Ankura’s board of directors.
"I am immensely proud of all that we have accomplished at Ankura over these past five years," Carlile said. "Our goal was to create a different kind of business advisory services firm and it has been an honor to lead our talented team of professionals as we have realized this vision. Kevin is the right person to build on this success as Ankura embarks on its next chapter of growth.”
The Washington, DC-based firm significantly increased its profile and gained a global footprint in 2018 when it acquired Navigant’s disputes, forensics and legal technology (DFLT) segment and transaction advisory services (TAS) practice for $470 million. Ankura focuses on corporate performance and risk management, competing with rivals FTI Consulting, Alvarez & Marsal, and AlixPartners.
Ankura has grown to a global footprint of 1,500 employees in over 30 offices, with annual revenues of more than $500 million.
Lavin’s elevation to CEO will extend and expand the work he was performing as co-president for the past four years, which included determining and executing the consultancy’s growth strategy.
Prior to joining Ankura in 2016, Lavin spent a year as emergency manager of Atlantic City, during which time he developed a long-term business plan as well as strategy and tactics to improve business processes and increase access to capital markets for the New Jersey city.
Before that, he spent over 12 years at FTI Consulting, where he was global co-leader of the firm’s corporate finance/restructuring practice. Lavin was also previously a partner at Big Four accounting and consulting firm PwC. He holds a BS in accounting and finance from Manhattan College.
“I am honored to be named CEO of Ankura… Since our founding in 2014, Ankura has grown from a nascent start-up into one of the fastest growing consulting firms,” Lavin said. “Our collaborative, client-centric approach and focus on innovation are what set Ankura apart and why clients continually seek our counsel.”
The firm also announced that Darin Buchalter, a senior managing director, will become chief administrative officer, overseeing areas including IT, client intake, real estate, business administration, and marketing. As well, David Tortorello will transition from vice chairman to non-executive vice chairman of Ankura’s board of directors.
