Stephen Blum, Managing Director, has planned, generated and led cross border and domestic M&A and corporate financial transactions in a variety of consumer and industrial fields for 25 years. Mr. Blum began his career in 1974 as an accountant at KPMG. He joined KPMG Corporate Finance in 1976, entered the partnership in 1981, and served as US partner in charge of KPMG Corporate Finance for most of the 1980s and 1990s. During those years, in addition to advising clients on M&A and corporate finance matters, Mr. Blum also served on KPMG's Finance Committee, advised KPMG on several of its own acquisitions, and helped establish KPMG's Valuation Services Practice. He subsequently served as Managing Director of Chartered Capital Advisers, Inc., where he continued to advise clients on M&A, corporate finance and valuation matters. Mr. Blum serves on the boards of several commercial and not-for-profit organizations. He is a member of the American Arbitration Association, and has arbitrated or served as expert witness in numerous disputes. Mr. Blum graduated from Yale University (B.A. with honors in Economics), and from the Stern School of Business (M.S. in Accountancy). He is a CPA and an Accredited Senior Appraiser.