Gridiron Capital Enhances Operating Partner Resources with the Addition of Tom McInerney and Jason Cohen

McInerney’s and Cohen’s Experiences Implementing Key Growth Initiatives Will Offer Significant Value to Gridiron’s Portfolio Partnerships

NEW CANAAN, CT, September 12, 2024 – Gridiron Capital, LLC (“Gridiron Capital”), an investment firm focused on partnering with founders, entrepreneurs, and management teams, is pleased to announce that Tom McInerney and Jason Cohen have joined the team as Gridiron’s newest Operating Partners. Tom’s and Jason’s experiences as seasoned executives will further strengthen Gridiron’s Centers of Excellence, having repeatedly driven the execution of critical business initiatives across multiple organizations within varied operating environments.

Mr. McInerney is a C-Suite leader with nearly twenty years of business transformation experience working for a diverse range companies facing operational and financial change. Before becoming an Operating Partner, Tom founded M4 Advisors, a business advisory firm providing performance improvement, and transaction advisory services to middle-market companies and their sponsors. Tom also held various executive-level roles, including CEO and President & COO, at both MedOptions, and Employer Direct Healthcare. Additionally, Tom held operationally-focused roles specializing in driving transformational change across multiple industries at Centerbridge Partners, Cerberus Capital Management, and Marotta Gund Budd & Dzera. Tom received an M.B.A. from NYU Stern School of Business and a B.A. from Princeton University.

Mr. Cohen brings over twenty years of experience as a trusted partner to private equity funds and their portfolio companies. He spent the first half of his career at Alvarez & Marsal, specializing in pre-acquisition financial accounting and operational due diligence, as well as post-acquisition performance improvement, where he served in interim COO, Treasurer, and FP&A roles. Over the past decade, Jason has been a key member of executive teams, leading buy-and-build strategies around M&A integration and the evolution of the Project Management Office (PMO) at private equity-backed business services companies, including Purestar, Pritchard Industries, and Brady Industries. Jason received an M.B.A. from the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College and a B.S. from the University of Maryland.

Tom Burger, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Gridiron Capital, said, “We are excited to integrate the diverse insights and best practices that Tom and Jason bring into our portfolio. Tom’s extensive experience as a business advisor, coupled with his ability to deliver actionable results across various operating environments, will significantly enhance our Centers of Excellence and Operating Partner bench. Jason’s proven track record in integrating nearly 50 acquisitions will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our M&A capabilities and refine financial operations best practices within our company partnerships.”

Kevin Jackson, Managing Partner, added, “We are pleased to welcome Tom and Jason to the Gridiron team as we continue to invest in additional Operating Partner talent and resources to support growth for our portfolio company partnerships.  Tom and Jason bring broad expertise in building operational excellence, performance improvement, M&A integration, and financial expertise that will serve as a crucial asset for our entire portfolio, particularly as we strive to create value amid dynamic market conditions.”

About Gridiron Capital

Gridiron Capital is an investment firm focused on partnering with founders, entrepreneurs, and management teams, and creating value by building middle-market companies into industry-leaders in the consumer products & services, industrial growth and business services segments in the United States and Canada. We help transform growing companies by winning together through hard work, partnerships grounded in shared values, and a unique culture that comes from hands-on experience building and running businesses. As a team led by former operators and entrepreneurs, we know what it takes to run successful businesses on a day-to-day basis. Additional information is available on the firm’s website: www.gridironcapital.com.

Contacts

Gridiron Capital, LLC

Thomas A. Burger Jr.

Co-Founder and Managing Partner

tburger@gridironcapital.com