Leadership
Pointe is an elite boutique, harnessing the power of original research to elevate client strategies. With over 25 years in the strategic research and advisory space, Pointe employs 40 full-time thought leaders including seasoned industry veterans, many holding advanced degrees and PhDs.
Karl Kelley
PARTNER & FOUNDER
Karl brings over 25 years of experience advising Global 500 and investment clients on issues relating to custom strategic research and decision-support engagements.
Prior to founding Pointe, he served with an acquisition search firm and in leadership with a private equity due diligence firm. Over his career, Karl has advised over 50 select corporate and private equity clients on designing best-in-class strategic research programs. At Pointe, Karl has direct responsibility for operations and organizational strategy including staffing and business development activities. Karl graduated from James Madison University with dual degrees in Economics and Marketing.
Kristen Chang
PARTNER
Kristen leads Pointe’s Industrials practice, bringing 20 years of experience in manufacturing markets. She has extensive functional and sector expertise, leading strategic and tactical engagements for C-Suite senior leadership and management at global Fortune 500 corporations. Additionally, Kristen has supported and led more than 50 event processes, including multiple M&A diligences.
Prior to Pointe, Kristen worked in banking with Nissho Iwai Corporation, a major Japanese trading company; supported UN Ambassador Madeleine Albright at the United States Mission to the United Nations as an economic and political advisor; and served in Europe for the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). Kristen holds a Bachelor of Science from The College of William & Mary and a Master of Science from The Johns Hopkins University.
Ramon Solis
PARTNER
Ramon brings more than 20 years of experience consulting to Global 500 and private equity clients in the areas of growth strategy and customized research engagements. Since joining Pointe in 2003, he has participated in and directed hundreds of global market, competitor benchmarking, and customer engagements across a wide range of sectors, including professional services, financial services, and industrials.
Prior to joining Pointe, Ramon served as Managing Director at Citigate Markowitz & McNaughton, a buy-side acquisition search, commercial due diligence (CDD), and market intelligence firm. Ramon is a published author and a graduate of Duke University. He completed post-graduate work at the University of Virginia.
Stuart Ferguson
PARTNER
Stuart leads Pointe’s Private Equity practice and brings 10 years of specialized experience in inorganic growth, with M&A expertise across a wide range of sectors, including professional services, software, industrials and energy. In the PE space, Stuart has successfully led more than 50 commercial diligences for a mix of middle market and mega funds, including 7 of the 10 largest funds globally.
Prior to joining Pointe, Stuart led diligences in Bain & Co’s Private Equity Group. Before that, he was an accountant at KPMG, specializing in hedge fund tax consulting. Stuart holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from the College of William & Mary and an MBA from Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia. He is also a licensed CPA in Virginia.
Kenneth Sawka, Ed.D
PRINCIPAL
Dr. Kenneth Sawka leads the Pointe Health practice and brings more than 30 years of experience in business strategy, intelligence, and leadership development. In roles at Deloitte Consulting and Fuld & Company, among other firms, Ken has designed and led intelligence programs, scenario planning engagements, business war-gaming experiences, and critical thinking-based leadership and decision-support engagements for numerous healthcare industry organizations including healthcare providers and payers, global pharmaceutical manufacturers, and health tech firms.
Ken has been quoted on business strategy and intelligence in Modern Healthcare, Fast Company, Investor’s Business Daily, and other journals. He has also been featured on CNBC’s Squawk Box. Ken was named a Fellow of the Strategic and Competitive Intelligence Professionals (SCIP) in 2003, and received the Meritorious Award, SCIP’s highest honor, in 2010. Ken holds a Doctor of Education Degree in Organizational Leadership from Northeastern University, and an M.A. in International Relations and a B.S. in Political Science, from The American University.
Peter Smith
PRINCIPAL
Peter is a Principal at Pointe Advisory, delivering strategic intelligence and decision-support to senior leaders at Global 500 clients for nearly 15 years. Peter has led hundreds of engagements in market, product, and competitor analysis; market entry strategy; and pre-deal M&A or partner diligence and has significant experience across numerous sectors including agriculture, heavy industry, manufacturing, building products, technology, security, and healthcare. Peter has substantial international experience performing work in more than 30 countries across six continents.
Prior to joining Pointe, Peter held positions working in telecommunications, speech recognition, and healthcare technology.
Peter holds a Bachelor of Science degree from James Madison University and has completed post-graduate work at George Mason University.