Cleveland business consultancy Morningside Group launches

Morningside Group, a business consulting firm based in the Cleveland suburb of Beachwood, OH, has launched.

Founders Mark Sponseller and Ansir Junaid believe the boutique finance, operations, and IT consultancy will provide a differentiated offering from larger consulting groups.

“Morningside Group’s goal is to provide an alternative experience for customers and professionals alike. One where people like what they do, are energized in how they do it and are proud of what they accomplish together,” said Sponseller, a former managing director at Alvarez & Marsal who will serve as Morningside’s CEO and managing principal. “Through the use of smaller teams with unique experiences, Morningside Group will be able to provide unparalleled service at attractive economics to our clients.”

The new consultancy’s team of professionals and outside contractors have experience across consulting and operating roles, with industry expertise in manufacturing, distribution, energy, infrastructure, retail, and consumer products. The firm will support corporate and private equity clients with advice on M&A, refinancing and recapitalization, performance improvement, and crisis and change management.

Sponseller has more than 25 years of experience in consulting and financial executive positions. He has spent the last year as chief integration officer at 48forty solutions, the largest pallet management services company in North America. Before that, he spent five years as CFO at Prime360 (formerly Prime Woodcraft), a pallet management firm that was acquired by 48forty last year.

Before that, he spent nine years at Alvarez & Marsal, where he was a managing director in the transaction advisory group. He also previously spent eight years at PwC, where he was latterly a partner in the transaction services practice. Sponseller began his career at Deloitte, spending four years in audit and transaction services.

Ansir Junaid is founder, chairman, and CEO of the SupplySide Group of companies, which encompasses several companies focusing on distribution of shipping and packaging supplies, signage, and PPE. The group also includes real estate investment firms and formerly owned Prime360.

Junaid has run SupplySide Group – recently named one of Crain’s 52 fastest-growing companies in Northeast Ohio – since 1997.

“At Morningside we attempt to leverage the best practices and techniques our professionals have learned from having been on both the principal and agent sides of the house during their careers,” Junaid said. “We believe this allows for the creation of meaningful insights and impactful execution for our clients on an accelerated timeframe.”