Alvarez & Marsal appointed Mike Oakley to a managing director role in its private equity performance improvement practice with a specialization in aerospace, defense, aviation and space.

Based in Miami, Oakley focuses on engagements spanning the M&A transaction lifecycle. He advises and supports clients in strategic assessments and rationale, transaction structuring, valuation, due diligence, sale/purchase agreements, negotiations and large-scale integration and separation programs.

“Mike knows how to conceptualize and implement real world applications of mission-critical technology,” James Marceau, a managing director for Alvarez & Marsal’s private equity performance improvement practice and a leader of the firm’s aerospace, defense, aviation and space group, said. “He understands the challenges and opportunities that operations, carve-outs and post-merger integrations present to original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and primes. His insights will advance our ability to help clients maximize value and drive change.”

Prior to joining Alvarez & Marsal, Oakley spent 10 years at L3Harris Technologies as a strategy and business development executive, executing more than $20 billion of buy-side, sell-side and venture capital transactions. Before that he served as vice president of strategy and planning for RailAmerica, a holding company of 45 short-line railroad operations across North America. Oakley was part of the private-equity-backed leadership team that led the turnaround, IPO and eventual sale of RailAmerica.

Previously, Oakley served as a managing director at KPMG in strategy and held multiple M&A transaction advisory roles on global transactions of more than $50 billion.

“Mike’s significant advisory and management achievements align with A&M’s operational heritage and results-driven mindset,” Luigi Peluso, a managing director for Alvarez & Marsal’s private equity performance improvement practice, said. “His focus is helping clients solve complex real-world problems. His deep ADAS sector expertise combined with his 360-degree M&A knowledge gives clients an added advantage for identifying current and future opportunities.”

“Technology and innovation is moving at an unprecedented pace in the ADAS industry,” Oakley said. “Acquiring strategic capabilities through M&A and equity investments can significantly contribute to achieving strategic objectives and accelerating growth. Our deep experience and integrated M&A delivery platform enables us to seamlessly plug in to a M&A process and deal team where we can deliver the most value to clients.”