Stuart
Kaufman

Mr. Kaufman is a Senior Managing Director of Areté Partners, based in Chicago. Stuart is a senior advisor with more than 30 years of experience advising businesses during periods of distress and transition. Stuart has proven success advising clients through operational and financial improvements, developing and implementing value creation plans, balance sheet restructurings (both in and out of court), interim management, capital markets, and lender advisory services.

Stuart has served as both a financial advisor and interim senior executive, including as an Independent Board Member, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Restructuring Officer for portfolio companies of various asset managers, including private equity, private credit, commercial banks, and family-owned businesses.

Mr. Kaufman has experience across various industries, including automotive, hospitality, healthcare, oil & gas, power generation & distribution, manufacturing, logistics, financial services, aviation, telecommunications, and ecommerce.

Prior to joining Areté, Mr. Kaufman was a Managing Director at Portage Point Partners, where he helped build the performance improvement and restructuring practice as the firm grew from 5 to 50 employees. He previously held senior roles at Winter Harbor, Ernst & Young, Alvarez & Marsal, Grant Thornton, and Navigant, and began his career in corporate finance and banking, including at GE Capital.

Stuart holds an MBA from York University’s Schulich School of Business and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Western Ontario. He is a Certified Insolvency and Restructuring Advisor (CIRA).