Mr. Lerner has strong industry expertise in manufacturing, automotive, technology, food and beverage, as well as consumer brands and the fashion industry.

Core Competencies:

• Extensive Experience working with major multinational clients on their strategies and acquisition plans, incorporating investments, capital raising, and in some cases, IPO’s.
• Adjunct Professor at SKEMA Business School (5 years), China campus of the largest business school in France. Teaching Masters level courses in Finance, Financial Modeling, Strategy, Governance. Adjunct Professor at Herbert Business Graduate School, University of Miami, teaching Mergers and Acquisitions and Business Valuation.
• Analytical – Synthesize complex and diverse information; Highly organized in work flow, procedures, and operations.
• Strategic Thinking – Develop strategies to achieve organizational goals; Understand organization’s strengths & weaknesses; Experienced in analysis of markets and competition.
• Written Communication – Highly effective at presenting financial, numerical, and strategic data effectively.
• Teamwork – Balance team and individual responsibilities; Able to build group commitments to team goals and objectives.

Mr. Lerner’s accomplishments are characterized by not just strategic advisory work, but by practical and successful implementation.  He brings to any company a large portfolio of experiences from a wide range of enterprises in selected industries. 

Professional Career:

Morgen Evan Advisory Services  (Shanghai, New York, Tokyo)                                (1992-present)

Founded the Strategy and M&A boutique in NY in 1992.  Opened offices in Tokyo (later sold to Mitsubishi Corporation), Shanghai, and Seoul. Provides strategic advisory services to US and European multinational clients on their global strategies and growth plans. Initiate and negotiate investments and acquisitions to implement strategies.  Manage the firm’s membership in global business associations.   Previous Chairman of Oaklins and Board Member of M&A Worldwide.

Achieved more than 200 successful strategy and M&A advisory projects, along with implementation for many of the world’s largest corporations, including Suntory, Mars, McGraw Hill, IFF, Kerry Foods, Irish Dairy Board and Wine World (Chateau St. Jean), Constellation Brands, and the Nolet family. Following successful transactions, Mr. Lerner has also served on client Board’s, including several public companies.

SKEMA Business School (Suzhou Campus, and France remotely)                               (2016-present)

Teaching Masters Degree level courses in International Strategy and Management. Student evaluation grades among the highest at SKEMA.

JAM Fashion, Ltd.  (New York, Shanghai)                                                                               (2008-2018)

Co-founded this fashion advisory and distribution firm in New York.  Quickly expanded business to Asia and Europe.  Advised a plethora of fashion industry clients on international strategy and expansion in Asia, Middle East, and Europe.  Experience with more than 25 fashion brands, identifying international partners and advising on distribution agreements, licensing, partnership agreements, and retailing in overseas markets.  Following very successful growth in China, the business was sold in 2018 to one of our European clients.  (Client names available upon request).

Advised the CFDA (Council of Fashion Designers of America) in New York on developing relationships in China.  With the CFDA, and the NY State Dept. of Economic Development, brought a team of 10 CEO’s of NY based fashion brands to Shanghai and Beijing in order to meet with Chinese industry counterparts and to develop distribution channels.

Chase Manhattan Bank                                                                                                            (1990-1992)

Managing Director, Japan Corporate Finance Group.   Responsible for all client relationship management with Japanese multinationals operating in the US.   Advisory work focused on mergers, acquisitions, project finance, and financing alternatives.

Merrill Lynch  (New York, Tokyo)                                                                                           (1982-1990)

VP in International Investment Banking.   Moved to Mergers and Acquisitions in 1984.  Became Director of the Japan Banking Group in 1985.  Providing the full portfolio of services to Japanese multinationals;  M&A, strategic advisory, underwriting, project finance, financial advisory including debt rating services.  Successfully advised many of Japan’s largest corporations (Toyota, Honda, Mitsubishi, Sumitomo, Suntory, Shiseido, Fujitsu, Nikon, Kobe, etc.)

Education:

Columbia Business School

Advanced Executive Management Program

Attended the AMP, upon being promoted to Vice President.

The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

MBA in Finance
One of only 12 students in a class of 700+, admitted to the MBA program immediately following college, without full-time work experience.  While at Wharton became the full-time Director of the Wharton computer/data center during second year of courses.

Vassar College

AB degree with honors in Computer Science and Applied Mathematics     
Full year internship at IBM Research Labs to support honors thesis.

Professional / Personal Interests:

• Previously a Board member of M&A Worldwide, and Chairman of M&A International (“MAI”, now renamed Oaklins);
• Board member of TEDx Shanghai;
• Founder of Art Salon Shanghai – a monthly Sunday brunch with presentations by the leading contemporary artists in China;
• Presently authoring a book on current global issues in politics and trade with China.
• Personal interests include:
• collecting contemporary and Florida art
• wine enthusiast and organizer of wine events
• gardening and landscape design,
• vintage automobile racing,
• cycling (competitive racing),
• international travel and cultures (have visited 50+ countries)