Gordon Brothers, the global advisory, restructuring, and investment firm, announced the appointment of Michael Brandt as Chief Operating Officer.

As COO, Brandt will lead Gordon Brothers’ finance, IT, investor relations, and facilities functions and, together with the firm’s wider leadership team, drive strategic, financial, investment, operational, and technology success throughout the business.  He has also been appointed to the Investment Committee.

“I am very excited to welcome Michael to our management team,” said Kenneth Frieze, Chief Executive Officer of Gordon Brothers.  “Michael’s extensive experience at the executive level is a great fit for our firm.  His leadership will be essential as we continue to grow our global platform,” he added.

Brandt arrives at Gordon Brothers with a breadth of executive experience, most recently serving as CFO of Prudential’s International Insurance Holdings and Retirement Services businesses.  Previously Brandt held the role of COO and Region Head at Babcock & Brown, an Australia-based private equity firm, leading Babcock’s real estate and infrastructure businesses in North and South America, and he has held numerous operating business CFO roles at GE Capital’s commercial finance and insurance businesses, managing teams in the North America, Europe, and Asia.

“At Gordon Brothers I have a great opportunity to contribute to an engaging firm with extensive experience in markets domestically and abroad,” stated Brandt.  “I am eager to begin working with this talented and dedicated team of professionals,” he added.

Brandt was a member of the Board of Directors of Bankwell Financial Group, where he served on the Audit and Asset/Liability Management Committees.  He has also guest lectured at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

Brandt earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Syracuse University’s Whitman School of Business and a Master of Business Administration degree in Finance, Management, and International Business from New York University’s Stern School of Business.  He also holds the Certified Public Accountant designation.