(December 8, 2012) – Rockwood, a private investment firm based in Cleveland and New York, today announces new roles and additions among its team.
Rockwood is pleased to announce the promotion of Joe Merrill to Partner. Joe joined Rockwood’s Cleveland office in 2006 and focuses on transaction sourcing, structuring, negotiation and monitoring of portfolio companies. Most recently, he led the successful merger of Amistco Separation Products and ACS Separations and Mass Transfer Products, which now operates as AMACS. Joe serves on the Board of Directors of many of Rockwood’s portfolio companies, including Astrex Electronics, Inc., Medical Positioning, Inc., XL Specialized Trailers, Inc., Minco Technology Labs, LLC and AMACS. “During his time with Rockwood, Joe has become instrumental to the growth of our firm and the success of our portfolio companies,” said Brett Keith, Managing Partner. “His poignant insights into business issues, his deep passion for helping our companies achieve their full potential and his impeccable work ethic, have helped us build true partnerships with our portfolio company management teams as we work hand-in-hand to grow their businesses.”
In addition, Rockwood announces Reed Blocksom’s promotion to Senior Associate. Since joining the firm’s Cleveland office in 2008, his responsibilities have continually expanded, most recently with his leadership role during the acquisition of AFC Industries, Inc. and the subsequent work with its management team to implement growth strategies. Previously, Reed held roles within Key Bank’s Real Estate Private Equity Group and KeyBanc Capital Markets.
Joe and Reed officially will assume their new roles with Rockwood on January 1, 2013.
In addition, Rockwood announces that Vince Nardy has joined the firm’s Cleveland office as Partner. For many years, he has served Rockwood as advisor and held executive positions with several of the firm’s portfolio companies.
In Rockwood’s New York Office, Sung Jang has joined the team as an analyst, replacing Rafael Romero, who left Rockwood to attend Harvard Business School. Sung’s primary areas of focus include transaction sourcing, analysis, due diligence and financing. Before joining Rockwood, Sung worked at a New York-based private equity firm and at Citigroup in New York.
After 13 years of building Rockwood with Brett Keith and the rest of the team, Owen Colligan has reduced his involvement in the firm’s day-to-day activities and will serve as a Senior Advisor to Rockwood going forward. Owen remains deeply engaged on the boards of portfolio companies Global Thermoelectric and AFC. Brett Keith and Joe Merrill will continue to oversee the firm’s new transaction activity.