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David Ascher
Mr. Ascher previously worked at the Bellwether Group, where he advised small- to medium-sized companies across the entertainment, health sciences, and information technology industries on both overall strategy and capital procurement, from seed funding to expansion-stage financing and buyouts. He also developed an Internet company with proprietary interactive calendaring technology. Mr. Ascher completed his bachelor's degree in Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, where he served as Student Body President and received the Class of 1901 Medal for the student who has "Done the Most for Princeton." He received his Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School, where he won both the first-year "Best Brief Award" and the James Olin Prize for the "Best Paper in Law and Economics." He is a member of the State Bar of California.
Ken Firtel
Before joining Platinum, he was an associate in the Transactions Department of O'Melveny & Myers, where he specialized in mergers and acquisitions, investor and company-side private equity, venture capital and debt financing, joint ventures, and general representation of middle-market and emerging companies in the media, entertainment, telecom, and technology sectors. Mr. Firtel holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Yale University, a Master of Science, Industrial Relations-Diploma in Business Studies from the London School of Economics, and a Juris Doctor from the USC Gould School of Law. He played Varsity soccer at Yale and published an article in the Southern California Law Review. He serves on the Operating Committee of SCORE, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the rehabilitation of people with spinal cord injuries.
Russ Roenick
At Microsoft, Mr. Roenick's customer segmentation and ethnography work resulted in a re-definition of the Microsoft Office customer base and, subsequently, changes to the feature set and go-to-market plans for the product. Before Microsoft, Mr. Roenick ran his own digital media start-up, ikimas, specializing in digital media content management. At Credit Suisse First Boston Technology Group in Palo Alto he worked on initial public offerings for several high-profile technology firms. Mr. Roenick received his Bachelor's Degree with honors from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University.
Brian Biggott
Prior to his time at McKinsey, Mr. Biggott held product development roles at a venture-backed high technology startup and two low-volume specialty automotive manufacturers, where he led the design, development, and testing of products ranging from semiconductor cooling devices to automotive superchargers. He was awarded multiple patents for his work in fluid dynamics and disaster preparedness while earning his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the School of Engineering at Stanford University. In addition, he received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a B.A. in Philosophy from Stanford University. While at Stanford, Mr. Biggott was also a Mayfield Fellow, participating in an intensive, year-long fellowship program focused on the theoretical and practical aspects of the growth, strategy, management, and funding of entrepreneurial ventures.
Adam Fraser
Prior to joining McKinsey, Mr. Fraser worked as legal policy advisor for Arnold Schwarzenegger's recall election campaign and as Assistant Cabinet Secretary in the California Governor's Office. In state government he was part of the senior management team of the California Performance Review, a 275 person initiative to increase the efficiency of state government that identified more than $32 billion in cost reduction opportunities over five years. Mr. Fraser holds a J.D. from UCLA School of Law, where he graduated first in his class at the age of 20, and an M.P.P. from the UCLA School of Public Affairs. He received his bachelor's degree from California State University Los Angeles with a double major in Chemistry and Philosophy. |
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Mr. Ascher is a Managing Director of Transom Capital and will oversee investments within the consumer and industrial sectors. Previously a distinctive consultant in the Los Angeles office of McKinsey & Company, the global management consultancy, Mr. Ascher counseled Fortune 500 financial institutions, consumer brands, and industrial clients across strategy, operations, and finance. His private equity work, in particular, involved supporting the nation's leading firms in deal assessment, valuation, portfolio management, and sector strategy.
Mr. Firtel is a Managing Director of Transom Capital. He was previously a Vice President at Platinum Equity, a top tier Los Angeles-based private equity firm, and was responsible for evaluating, structuring, and negotiating transactions and transitioning and overseeing operations of portfolio companies.
Mr. Roenick is a Managing Director of Transom Capital and will lead investments in media & entertainment. Prior to Transom Capital, Mr. Roenick developed a reputation as a leader in both the media and high-tech industries, working as a product strategist at Microsoft, investment banker at Credit Suisse First Boston Technology Group, and as a film producer on "Parental Guidance Suggested" (a teen comedy that was sold to the Weinstein Company in late 2006). Most recently, Mr. Roenick was one of the leaders of McKinsey & Company's Media & Entertainment practice on the West Coast, with a specific focus on strategic and operational issues for studio and gaming clients. This work has helped him build relationships with top executives from many of the largest media & entertainment companies across the West Coast.
Mr. Biggott is a Principal of Transom Capital and will be focusing on investments in the consumer and industrial spaces, leveraging his experience in product development, production efficiency, and top-level strategy implementation. Prior to Transom Capital, Mr. Biggott was a consultant in the Los Angeles office of McKinsey & Company, where he served clients in the automotive, aerospace, industrial, consumer products, retail, and private equity spaces. His work with clients included extensive due diligence, corporate finance strategy, strategic sourcing, lean implementation, and brand development.
Mr. Fraser is a Principal of Transom Capital and will be focusing on investments in the media & entertainment and consumer spaces. Prior to Transom Capital, Mr. Fraser was a consultant in the Los Angeles office of McKinsey & Company, where he worked with media and private equity clients on a range of strategic and operational issues. His work included conducting due diligence on potential acquisitions and implementing turnarounds for several leading private equity firms. In addition, he worked with a variety of media clients, including gaming companies, film studios, and online players to develop growth strategies and lead operational improvement programs.
