Stout Risius Ross Expands Operational Strategy & Performance Improvement Practice

Top talent strengthens company's operational and international expertise

DETROIT, Jan. 7 -- Stout Risius Ross (SRR) has expanded its Operational Strategy & Performance Improvement practice by adding several senior automotive industry experts, which further enables the firm to positively impact the critical operational, strategic and financial challenges facing its clients.

The newest senior additions include Richard Rossmann, Steven Hoffman, and Mark Shircliff. Richard Rossmann joined SRR as a Managing Director. He has over 35 years of experience with international manufacturing, acquisition and joint venture projects for Fortune 500 companies, including American Axle & Manufacturing and Chrysler Corporation. Steven Hoffman joined SRR as a Vice President. He has over 30 years of senior level experience in the automotive, healthcare and education arenas. Mark Shircliff joined SRR as a Vice President. He has over 22 years of experience in the automotive and manufacturing industries and served most recently as Vice President of Manufacturing for AmeriChip International.

"We will continue to add bench strength in order to provide the best team with the appropriate expertise to serve our clients. For example, with the addition of Rick Rossmann, we can continue to evaluate the increase in client objectives related to international opportunities and assist them with their global transitions," said Laurie Harbour-Felax, Managing Director, SRR.

These professionals have significant hands-on management and manufacturing expertise. They will provide decisive, rapid and sustainable results by implementing proven action initiatives based on decades of experience across a wide range of North American and International manufacturing environments.

In June, Stout Risius Ross (SRR) and the Harbour-Felax Group, led by Laurie Harbour-Felax, a seasoned automotive industry consultant, formally announced they joined together to strengthen the Operational Strategy & Performance Improvement practice. Marion Wells, Vice President of Business Development, also joined SRR from the Harbour-Felax Group.

SRR's Operational Strategy & Performance Improvement group services manufacturing clients along with private equity and financial institutions with the following services:

   - Operational assessment, due diligence & performance improvement
   - International growth & global transition planning
   - Total cost & asset management
   - Strategic advisory & benchmarking.

The Operational Strategy & Performance Improvement group works closely with the other service areas within the firm such as Investment Banking, Restructuring & Turnaround, Valuation & Financial Opinions and Dispute Advisory & Forensic Services to provide clients with one trusted source to improve their business performance and meet the changing climate.

About Stout Risius Ross

Stout Risius Ross is a 200 person financial and operational advisory firm that specializes in investment banking, through Stout Risius Ross Advisors, LLC., operational strategy & performance improvement, restructuring & turnaround, valuation & financial opinions, and dispute advisory & forensic services. SRR has offices in Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, New York, and Washington DC. SRR's breadth of clients includes Fortune 50 corporations to closely held private companies in numerous industries around the globe. For more information, please visit http://www.srr.com/ .