Palm Tree LLC (“Palm Tree”), the modern M&A advisor that provides integrated investment banking, transaction support, and strategic finance services for private equity firms and businesses worldwide, today announced the appointment of Derek J. Alderton to the newly created role of Vice Chairman.
Mr. Alderton was an early investor in Palm Tree, has been a trusted strategic advisor to the firm since 2016, and served on its advisory board since 2017. As Vice Chairman, he will expand his direct involvement in guiding the strategic direction of the firm as well as supporting future growth initiatives.
“Derek has been instrumental in providing wise and valuable counsel to me, and integral in elevating Palm Tree to new heights,” said Pardis Nasseri, CEO of Palm Tree. “His expertise and insights, built from years of transaction work and complex deal negotiations, have proven immensely valuable in guiding Palm Tree’s growth. His expanded strategic role and appointment to Vice Chairman is the next step as we develop to meet the needs of our clients.”
Mr. Alderton started his career after law school in Restructuring and Bankruptcy in Sydney, Australia, before moving into M&A advisory work at Macquarie Bank, focusing on media and cross-border transactions. He came to the U.S. to obtain his MBA and then spent ten years at McKinsey & Co., leaving as Co-Head of the Media and Entertainment Practice. Throughout his accomplished career, he has led professional teams across the globe on engagements up to $14 billion in transaction value.
Today, Mr. Alderton is the Director of the Anderson Strategy Group for UCLA Anderson’s MBA Program, where he has been a faculty member for almost two decades and teaches courses in the areas of Strategy and Entrepreneurship. In addition, Mr. Alderton accepts select engagements providing strategic advisory to CEOs at large multi-national corporations, is a senior partner in DRAW Solutions, a European strategy consulting firm, and is the Chairman of Audeze, the largest headphones manufacturer in the U.S.
“I am honored by the faith and trust Palm Tree has given me and privileged to be part of the firm’s growth and success,” Alderton said. “It’s exciting to expand my role with the firm and to collaborate more closely with Pardis and the exceptional team behind him to best serve our clientele of high-growth corporations and blue-chip Private Equity firms. Palm Tree demonstrates unwavering dedication to the success of their clients, and I look forward to our continued growth because of it.”
Mr. Alderton received an M.B.A. from UCLA Anderson School of Management. He also has a law degree and an undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Sydney, a diploma in Finance from the Securities Institute of Australia, and is qualified as an Australian Chartered Accountant (CPA equivalent).
Palm Tree is the modern M&A advisor. It provides integrated investment banking, transaction support, and finance services that power strategic events and drive business. The analytical intelligence it delivers enables businesses to better prepare for and execute on transactions, transitions, and transformations. Founded in 2010, Palm Tree was born out of private equity, and its team comes from private equity, Big-4 accounting, investment banking, and business operations experience. Its processes and deliverables enable clients to efficiently make critical business decisions and to realize advantageous outcomes in strategic events.
Securities products and services are offered through Palm Tree Securities LLC, member of FINRA, SIPC.
More information is available in our corporate video, on PalmTreeLLC.com, and on LinkedIn.