Executive Sounding Board Associates Inc. (ESBA) announced that Richard Hauer has joined the firm as a managing director. Hauer will be responsible for litigation support practice development and will work with ESBA’s other professionals to originate and manage turnaround, workout and other bankruptcy-related engagements.

Hauer brings over 25 years of consulting and advisory experience in restructuring and litigation support matters including providing expert testimony and valuation services. Throughout his career, Hauer has utilized his broad industry experience, with specialization in the manufacturing, retail and commercial real estate sectors, to successfully guide clients as they navigate through complicated issues during periods of transition. The company said Hauer takes great pride in the long-term relationships he has developed with attorneys, clients, colleagues, referral partners and the lending community.

“We are very pleased to welcome Rich to Executive Sounding Board Associates where he will complement and enhance our team’s capabilities,” said Marty Katz, founder and president of ESBA. “Rich will leverage his expertise and network to continue to build on the growth already underway in our other practice areas. Our firm will provide an excellent platform from which to apply his skills and for Rich to continue to serve the marketplace.”

Prior to joining ESBA, Hauer was an executive restructuring professional with two global accounting firms and also ran his own boutique restructuring and real estate advisory firm. He has authored numerous articles and is frequently called on as an expert by the media and industry trade organizations. Hauer received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Pennsylvania State University and an MBA degree from the Stern School of Business at NYU where he graduated with a dual major in Finance and International Economics. He is a board member of the New Jersey Chapter of the Turnaround Management Association as well as a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute.

Executive Sounding Board Associates is a turnaround, restructuring, crisis management, corporate finance and litigation support advisory firm.