About Crofton Capital
Crofton is a neighborhood southeast of London in England and the birthplace of Phil Ivey, the founder of Crofton Capital.
“Croft” is a historic term given to an area of arable land in Britain that is nurtured by a crofter for food production. Today, Crofton Capital enjoys an association of its name with the use of resources to generate production and growth in the modern world.
“Croft” is a historic term given to an area of arable land in Britain that is nurtured by a crofter for food production. Today, Crofton Capital enjoys an association of its name with the use of resources to generate production and growth in the modern world.
Phil Ivey, President
Since founding Crofton Capital, Phil Ivey has led each of the firm's acquisitions in a role that has included substantial time working directly with management teams to help support company growth. As a mergers and acquisitions advisor for 15 years prior to establishing Crofton Capital – most recently as Managing Director with Harris Williams & Co. (see note below) – Phil advised middle market clients in a range of sectors including industrial manufacturing, business services, distribution, technology, consumer products, and financial services. As an M&A practitioner, he worked extensively alongside owner-operators of closely-held businesses, as well as private equity groups and executive teams of large corporations that were selling divisions. In all these assignments, Phil enjoyed valuable insights into the philosophy and expertise of senior management teams across the gamut of business environments.
Prior to joining Harris Williams & Co. and helping to establish its Boston office, Phil was a Principal in the investment banking group of Tucker Anthony Sutro (now RBC Capital Markets). His further experience includes KPMG Consulting (now BearingPoint, Inc.), where he was a consultant working with companies on operational and financial management improvements, and the institutional equities group of UBS Securities in London, England.
Phil earned an M.B.A. with highest honors from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. More recently, he was also selected as one of Boston Business Journal's annual “40 Under 40” award winners.
After growing up in England, where he earned a B.S. from the University of Bristol, Phil has lived in the U.S. since 1989, all but two of those years in the Boston area where he now lives with his wife and three children.
Note: Among middle market M&A advisory firms focused on selling U.S. companies with under one billion dollars in deal value, Harris Williams & Co. enjoys an unparalleled reputation and is highly respected for its approach, results, and integrity.
Mark Abrahams, Advisory Board
Mr. Abrahams served as the President and CEO of DelStar Technologies, Inc., a manufacturer of highly engineered thermoplastic nonwoven netting utilized in filtration, healthcare and industrial applications through the time of its acquisition by Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. While overseeing DelStar's development into an industry leader, Mr. Abrahams has launched operations in China, completed strategic acquisitions, and pushed technological innovation. Prior to DelStar, Mr. Abrahams had been Vice President and General Manager of a division of Applied Extrusion Technologies, Inc. where he orchestrated a merger with Nalle Plastics to form DelStar. Previously, Mr. Abrahams was President of Cybex and COO of Cambridge Medical Instruments, and he held various positions with American Hospital Supply Company.
Frank O'Connell, Advisory Board
Mr. O’Connell has extensive operating experience running and repositioning companies, as well as leading turnaround initiatives. He is known for strategic thinking, brand building and breakthrough marketing. He currently sits on the board of public company TreeHouse Foods Inc. and several private companies. Mr. O’Connell is a Senior Advisor to The Parthenon Group, a strategy consulting firm, where he served as senior partner from 2004 to 2012 and specialized in consumer-branded goods and retail. From 2000 to 2002, he served as President and CEO of Indian Motorcycle Corporation, a storied motorcycle brand, and as Chairman through 2004. He previously served as President of Reebok Brands, North America from 1998 to 2000 during the Pump era, and also as President and COO of Skybox International, a trading card and collectibles company, Chairman, President and CEO of Gibson Greetings, Inc., a social expressions company, President of HBO Video, and SVP of Mattel’s Electronics Division.
Frank Ricchio, Advisory Board
Mr. Ricchio is a highly experienced and respected executive in the foodservice equipment industry. As President and CEO of Star Manufacturing International, Inc., Mr. Ricchio guided the company to leadership in a broad range of foodservice equipment categories before overseeing the sale of the company to Middleby Corporation. Prior to joining Star Manufacturing and serving in a number of sales and marketing roles, Mr. Ricchio started his career with Alco Foodservice Company and Prince Castle, Inc. As a senior executive with Middleby, Frank Ricchio added the Wells, Bloomfield, Nu-Vu and Toastmaster lines to his previous role of overseeing the Star, Holman and Lang brands, and he strengthened the competitive position and profitability of this combined group of brands. Mr. Ricchio retired after 28 years of service with Star/Middleby.
Len Sanders, Advisory Board
Mr. Sanders' has over 40 years experience as an innovative consumer products executive. Mr. Sanders was President and Chief Executive Officer of Holiday Group, Inc., during which time he grew the company to become Canada's largest supplier of luggage and bags. He remained with the Company until his retirement, and maintained subsequent Board involvement. During his tenure at Holiday he oversaw all aspects of the business including manufacturing, importing, sales and distribution, and marketing. In particular, he was the architect of the company's strategy to diversify into business and casual bags, to optimize outsourcing, and to license popular brands. Mr. Sanders has also served as Chairman of Travelpro International, Inc., a distinctive supplier of luggage in North America and overseas.
Peter Sullivan, Advisory Board
Mr. Sullivan is an Operating Partner of 550 Advisors, a business management and investment group formed to help companies reach their next level of performance by offering growth capital, strategic guidance and subject matter expertise. He is an accomplished business leader with extensive operating experience building and leading organizations. Previously, he was owner and CEO of Accurate Fasteners, Inc. an industrial distributor with a focus on providing uninterrupted support of production lines via full inventory availability and best of class reordering systems. He led Accurate in its transition from family to institutional ownership, growing the business while expanding value-added services, and later merging it to help form the northeast unit of a national platform company, AFC Industries. He has lectured to purchasing and trade organizations on supply chain systems and has served as the president of the fastener industry’s national trade association.
Ted Waitman, Advisory Board
Mr. Waitman is the retired President and Chief Executive Officer of CPM, the world's leading process design and equipment provider for the oilseed, animal feed, biofuel, and cereal industries. In leading CPM to becoming the industry's preeminent supplier, Mr. Waitman oversaw strong growth in the company's revenue and profitability while guiding the company though a number of significant acquisitions and international expansion efforts, while navigating corporate and private equity ownership changes. Mr. Waitman previously had served in a variety of roles at CPM, including Vice President and General Manager of CPM, Manufacturing Manager of worldwide operations, Plant Manager of the Crawfordsville facility, and General Manager for the Roskamp Champion division.
Since founding Crofton Capital, Phil Ivey has led each of the firm's acquisitions in a role that has included substantial time working directly with management teams to help support company growth. As a mergers and acquisitions advisor for 15 years prior to establishing Crofton Capital – most recently as Managing Director with Harris Williams & Co. (see note below) – Phil advised middle market clients in a range of sectors including industrial manufacturing, business services, distribution, technology, consumer products, and financial services. As an M&A practitioner, he worked extensively alongside owner-operators of closely-held businesses, as well as private equity groups and executive teams of large corporations that were selling divisions. In all these assignments, Phil enjoyed valuable insights into the philosophy and expertise of senior management teams across the gamut of business environments.
Prior to joining Harris Williams & Co. and helping to establish its Boston office, Phil was a Principal in the investment banking group of Tucker Anthony Sutro (now RBC Capital Markets). His further experience includes KPMG Consulting (now BearingPoint, Inc.), where he was a consultant working with companies on operational and financial management improvements, and the institutional equities group of UBS Securities in London, England.
Phil earned an M.B.A. with highest honors from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. More recently, he was also selected as one of Boston Business Journal's annual “40 Under 40” award winners.
After growing up in England, where he earned a B.S. from the University of Bristol, Phil has lived in the U.S. since 1989, all but two of those years in the Boston area where he now lives with his wife and three children.
Note: Among middle market M&A advisory firms focused on selling U.S. companies with under one billion dollars in deal value, Harris Williams & Co. enjoys an unparalleled reputation and is highly respected for its approach, results, and integrity.
Mark Abrahams, Advisory Board
Mr. Abrahams served as the President and CEO of DelStar Technologies, Inc., a manufacturer of highly engineered thermoplastic nonwoven netting utilized in filtration, healthcare and industrial applications through the time of its acquisition by Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. While overseeing DelStar's development into an industry leader, Mr. Abrahams has launched operations in China, completed strategic acquisitions, and pushed technological innovation. Prior to DelStar, Mr. Abrahams had been Vice President and General Manager of a division of Applied Extrusion Technologies, Inc. where he orchestrated a merger with Nalle Plastics to form DelStar. Previously, Mr. Abrahams was President of Cybex and COO of Cambridge Medical Instruments, and he held various positions with American Hospital Supply Company.
Frank O'Connell, Advisory Board
Mr. O’Connell has extensive operating experience running and repositioning companies, as well as leading turnaround initiatives. He is known for strategic thinking, brand building and breakthrough marketing. He currently sits on the board of public company TreeHouse Foods Inc. and several private companies. Mr. O’Connell is a Senior Advisor to The Parthenon Group, a strategy consulting firm, where he served as senior partner from 2004 to 2012 and specialized in consumer-branded goods and retail. From 2000 to 2002, he served as President and CEO of Indian Motorcycle Corporation, a storied motorcycle brand, and as Chairman through 2004. He previously served as President of Reebok Brands, North America from 1998 to 2000 during the Pump era, and also as President and COO of Skybox International, a trading card and collectibles company, Chairman, President and CEO of Gibson Greetings, Inc., a social expressions company, President of HBO Video, and SVP of Mattel’s Electronics Division.
Frank Ricchio, Advisory Board
Mr. Ricchio is a highly experienced and respected executive in the foodservice equipment industry. As President and CEO of Star Manufacturing International, Inc., Mr. Ricchio guided the company to leadership in a broad range of foodservice equipment categories before overseeing the sale of the company to Middleby Corporation. Prior to joining Star Manufacturing and serving in a number of sales and marketing roles, Mr. Ricchio started his career with Alco Foodservice Company and Prince Castle, Inc. As a senior executive with Middleby, Frank Ricchio added the Wells, Bloomfield, Nu-Vu and Toastmaster lines to his previous role of overseeing the Star, Holman and Lang brands, and he strengthened the competitive position and profitability of this combined group of brands. Mr. Ricchio retired after 28 years of service with Star/Middleby.
Len Sanders, Advisory Board
Mr. Sanders' has over 40 years experience as an innovative consumer products executive. Mr. Sanders was President and Chief Executive Officer of Holiday Group, Inc., during which time he grew the company to become Canada's largest supplier of luggage and bags. He remained with the Company until his retirement, and maintained subsequent Board involvement. During his tenure at Holiday he oversaw all aspects of the business including manufacturing, importing, sales and distribution, and marketing. In particular, he was the architect of the company's strategy to diversify into business and casual bags, to optimize outsourcing, and to license popular brands. Mr. Sanders has also served as Chairman of Travelpro International, Inc., a distinctive supplier of luggage in North America and overseas.
Peter Sullivan, Advisory Board
Mr. Sullivan is an Operating Partner of 550 Advisors, a business management and investment group formed to help companies reach their next level of performance by offering growth capital, strategic guidance and subject matter expertise. He is an accomplished business leader with extensive operating experience building and leading organizations. Previously, he was owner and CEO of Accurate Fasteners, Inc. an industrial distributor with a focus on providing uninterrupted support of production lines via full inventory availability and best of class reordering systems. He led Accurate in its transition from family to institutional ownership, growing the business while expanding value-added services, and later merging it to help form the northeast unit of a national platform company, AFC Industries. He has lectured to purchasing and trade organizations on supply chain systems and has served as the president of the fastener industry’s national trade association.
Ted Waitman, Advisory Board
Mr. Waitman is the retired President and Chief Executive Officer of CPM, the world's leading process design and equipment provider for the oilseed, animal feed, biofuel, and cereal industries. In leading CPM to becoming the industry's preeminent supplier, Mr. Waitman oversaw strong growth in the company's revenue and profitability while guiding the company though a number of significant acquisitions and international expansion efforts, while navigating corporate and private equity ownership changes. Mr. Waitman previously had served in a variety of roles at CPM, including Vice President and General Manager of CPM, Manufacturing Manager of worldwide operations, Plant Manager of the Crawfordsville facility, and General Manager for the Roskamp Champion division.