Who We Are
Led by passionate founders with decades of strategic advisory experience, R|T Advisors is a leading brand focused investment bank specializing in providing strategic advice, merger and acquisition expertise, and capital advisor for coveted brands and businesses in the U.S. and internationally. We partner closely with brand builders, entrepreneurs, founder-teams, and shareholders to drive optimal outcomes for stakeholders.
Our Core Values
We stand by our word and consistently advocate for our clients, advancing their interests at every opportunity.
Unique Culture
Culture is cultivated as a competitive advantage, created with purpose. Never settle for the status quo but always seek to evolve and improve. We communicate honestly and truly enjoy the challenges of the process.
Entrepreneur & Brand Driven
Entrepreneurially founded and focused, we understand and value the passions of business leaders and brand drivers and deliver like-minded energy in obtaining enviable outcomes for our clients.
Committed Sector Approach
In the highly competitive markets in which we flourish, it demands focus along with deep expertise and experience in our clients' environments. We’re passionate about brands and the entrepreneurs that build them, and deliver a long track record of proud achievements in the consumer sectors we work in.
Tenacity
Drive processes and outcomes, drive timelines, focus and re-focus; and do what is necessary to accomplish the best possible outcomes for our clients.
Intellectual & Research Focused
Proprietary insights are developed in target sectors with consistent research and analysis. Real-time sector information, & market data drive highly-convicted viewpoints resulting in better informed decisions, greater opportunities, and ultimately optimal outcomes for our clients.
Meet the Team
Education + Certificates
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MBA University of Southern California
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B.A. University of California, Los Angeles
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Certificate in Financial Planning, UCLA
Brien Rowe
Founding Partner + Managing Director
Brien is passionate about representing creative and driven founders, entrepreneurs, and capable management teams. With more than 30 years of experience, focusing on consumer brands, eCommerce and retail, he brings a wealth of expertise across a range of branded and lifestyle sectors.
His advisory experience encompasses a wide range of M&A transactions, recapitalizations, public offerings, board positions and board representation for clients in fashion, streetwear, outdoor, action & board sports, apparel, footwear and accessories, beauty & personal care, hospitality, hotels & resorts, and gaming.
Clients include widely recognized brands such as Too Faced Cosmetics, Fox Head, HUF, Globe International, RVCA, Titliest, Footjoy, Incase Designs, prAna, DC Shoes, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Performance Bike, Raleigh Bike, Overstock.com, Spreetail, RockTape, Vail Resorts, Killington Resort, and the San Diego Padres.
John Tomes
Founding Partner + Managing Director
John has over 30 years of private equity partner investment experience in the middle market and has actively guided a wide array of investments throughout the United States and Canada.
By recruiting and partnering with talented CEOs, he has grown organically and built through acquisition a number of highly successful businesses in the Distribution, Services, Manufacturing, Agriculture Tech, and Premium Natural & Organic Food sectors. As a lead investor, he has been integral in the development of market strategies, product development, strategic acquisitions, financings, operational improvements, and talent acquisition.
His prior professional experience includes roles at GE Capital and he was a Founding Partner of three private equity funds: Wynnchurch Capital Partners, Hilco Equity, and Hawthorn Equity Partners.
Notable companies that he has been the lead board member and integral in acquiring, growing, and advising include Natural Food Holdings (Niman Ranch & Sioux-Preme Packing), Hydrofarm Holdings, RX Label, Mobotrex, Awrey Bakery, Midwest Products Finishing, RCL, and Ice Mobility.
Education
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MBA University of Chicago Booth School of Business
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B.A. Kenyon College
Education + Certificates
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B.S. Cornell University's College of Engineering
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Chartered Financial Analyst
Tyler Kavanaugh
Partner, CFA
Tyler has nearly a decade of experience in private equity and investment banking. He has a passion for the art of deal structuring and being a true steward for founders and owners of businesses. He has worked on 50-plus transactions and engagements, spanning buy-side, sell-side, valuations, financial forecasting, and strategic planning.
Tyler's professional experience includes working at Highview Capital, a middle-market generalist private equity firm; Vista Equity Partners, one of the largest software private equity firms in the world; and Salt Creek Partners, a boutique investment banking firm representing middle-market companies. His transaction experience includes working with companies in the manufacturing, B2B services, environmental & sustainability, software, consumer & retail, healthcare, and industrials verticals.
Outside of work, he enjoys traveling with his wife, which has included running with the bulls in Spain, tiger safaris in India, skiing in Jackson Hole, and sand boarding in Morocco. You can also find him surfing, running and biking, reading, playing beer league hockey, or attempting to play golf.
Education
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PhD Catholic University of Paris
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M.T.S Emory University
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MTh Holy Spirit College
William Connelly
Vice President
William brings more than a decade of academic expertise to his role in investment banking, offering a meticulous approach to research and analysis. Holding a PhD from the Catholic University of Paris, he honed his skills during his seven years of experience as secretary to the International Network in Philosophy of Religion (INPR). Through this role, he developed a fervor for sharing ideas and cultivating an intellectual community. His contributions as INPR secretary have led to the success and growth of the network, and its evolution into a reputable not-for-profit organization in the United States.
William has cultivated a profound respect for intercultural exchange, and his intellectual work brought him to author numerous articles and translate a variety of texts. Originally from Atlanta, Ga., he pursued graduate studies at Emory University and Holy Spirit College, earning an M.T.S and MTh degree respectively.
Transitioning from academia to the private sector has been a gratifying journey, allowing him to merge his passion for research with business opportunities, where previously he worked with Arwood Partners pursuing both buy-side and sell-side M&A opportunities.
Beyond his business and academic pursuits, William has a fondness for 19th century French philosophy and organizing international seminars and events. He enjoys spending time with his wife and son - embracing cinema, wine, nature, and of course, the art of living.
Education
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PhD Oxford University, England
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PhD L'Institut Catholique de Paris, France
Taylor Knight
Vice President
Taylor brings a unique blend of experience to his role in investment banking, with a background spanning experience in mergers & acquisitions and academic research. Previously working with Arwood Partners, he has led M&A business development initiatives in B2B sectors like environmental, engineering, facilities services, as well as the traffic and infrastructure industry.
Prior, he worked as a researcher in philosophy and theology and holds a PhD in each field from Oxford University in England and L’Institut Catholique de Paris in France.
Currently, he is in the process of publishing a book on the philosophy of nature, a passion that intersects with his engagement in environmental consulting and services firms and the more “practical” side of environmental stewardship these firms represent. In addition, Taylor indulges his creative side as a part-time filmmaker and is nearing completion editing a short film he directed.
Education
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B.A. New York University
Andreea Popa
Marketing + Communications
Andreea is responsible for marketing strategy and media relations. She has a proven track record of building MarCom and MarTech platforms in the financial services industry, delivering impactful content and service offerings to clients globally through a data-driven digital experience.
Previously, she led marketing and communications for the Equity Capital Markets business comprising investment banking, capital markets, institutional research, sales, and trading at D.A. Davidson & Co. Prior, she held roles at Intrepid Investment Bankers, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (NYSE: MUFG), and Houlihan Lokey (NYSE: HLI). She began her career at Standard & Poor’s (NYSE: SPGI) in New York within the Ratings Information, Products & Services division, working on some of the rating agency’s premier financial market intelligence products.
Andreea is passionate about giving back to the community and has been involved in non-profit work for more than 20 years. She is a recipient of New York University’s Community Service Award. Currently, she serves as the CMO and Head of Fundraising for Positive Planet U.S.
Andreea has been recognized by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the “Most Influential Marketers” in Los Angeles.