Mergers & Acquisitions NYC | October 16, 2025
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TITLE
AMBASSADOR
AGENDA
8:00-9:00 AM | Registration & Networking Breakfast
9:00-9:05 AM | Welcome Remarks
Christopher P. Skroupa, Founder & CEO, Skytop Strategies
9:05-9:35 AM | Opening Fireside Chat
Regulatory Uncertainty, Economic Instability and Geopolitical Risk: Uncovering Opportunities as Institutional Investors Adapt to Changing Conditions
Host:
Robert McCormick, Executive Director, Council of Institutional Investors
Discussants:
Marcy Sharon Cohen, Managing Director, General Counsel and Head of Regulatory Affairs, ING Americas
9:35-10:15 AM | Panel Discussion
Policy Shifts and M&A: The Trump Administration’s Impact
Moderator:
Nick Graziano, Partner, 2717 Partners, and Skytop Contributing Author, Host of “Inside the Corporate Boardroom”, SkytopTV Talk Show Series
Panelists:
Bob Marese, President, MacKenzie Partners, Inc.
Eric Rosenfeld, CEO, Crescendo Partners
Sheila Hooda, Independent Board Director, Various Boards
Adrienne Ramsay, Board Member, Founder, Delphi Strategies, LLC, Aerospace Corporate Strategy & M&A Expert, Former Congressional Appropriator, and Skytop Contributing Author
10:15-10:45 AM | Exclusive Interview
Navigating the Storm: Managing Integration Risks
Interviewer:
Jeremy Fielding, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Partner, Kekst CNC, Skytop Contributing Author, Host of “Board GPS”, SkytopTV Talk Show Series
Interviewee:
Susan Skerritt, Board Director, Tanger, Inc. and former CEO, Banking
10:45-11:15 AM | Keynote Presentation
Tensions Between Leverage and Monetary Policy: A Macroeconomic Backdrop
Keynote Presenter:
Hans Hoogervorst, Former Dutch Finance Minister, Public Policy Expert and Skytop Contributing Author
11:15-11:30 AM | Networking Break
11:30-12:10 PM | Panel Discussion
Continuation Fund Vehicles: A Trendline for this Strategic Tool Gaining Traction in Private Equity
Moderator:
Ryan Tomicic, Partner, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Panelists:
Dave El Helou, Managing Director, Private Capital Advisory, Evercore
12:10-12:40 PM | Fireside Chat
Valuation: Levers Affecting the Economics of Deal Making
Moderator:
Chad Rucker, Senior Managing Director, Valuation Research Corporation
Panelists:
August Vlak, Partner and Managing Director, Barington Capital Group, L.P.
12:40-1:20 PM | Panel Discussion
Antitrust and M&A: Government and Its Impact on Deal Making
Moderator:
Arthur Kohn, General Counsel, Leading Corporate Governance Expert, Skytop Contributing Author, Chair of the Editorial Committee, Skytop Media Group
Panelists:
Lowell Robinson, Experienced Board Director and Advisor
Barak Orbach, Robert H. Mundheim Professor of Law and Business, University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law
1:20-2:20 PM | Networking Luncheon
2:20- 3:00 PM | Panel Discussion
Mind the Gap: Technology Sector Capital Flows into AI Companies
Moderator:
Panelists:
Adrienne Ramsay, Board Member, Founder, Delphi Strategies, LLC, Aerospace Corporate Strategy & M&A Expert, Former Congressional Appropriator, and Skytop Contributing Author
3:00-3:40 PM | Panel Discussion
Energy M&A: A Tale of Oil and Gas
Moderator:
Mauro da Cunha, Independent Director, Senior Advisor, Engage.MC
Panelists:
Francisco J. Morales Barrón, Partner, Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity, Vinson & Elkins LLP
Jonathan Lurvey, Managing Director, Mergers & Acquisitions, Energy Sector, Bank of America
Jan C. Childress, Director of Investor Relations, Consolidated Edison
3:40-4:20 PM | Exclusive Interview
Cross-Border Mergers and Acquisitions: Strategies for Navigating New Challenges
Interviewer:
Ronald Orol, Senior Editor, The Deal
Interviewees:
Fred Pletcher, Partner, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
David A. Katz, Partner, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
4:20-4:35 PM | Networking Break
4:35-5:15 PM | Panel Discussion
AI and the Digital Transformation: Its Impact on M&A
Moderator:
Bill Deckelman, Chief Legal Officer, Andersen, Vice Chairman of The Howard Baker Forum AI Collaborative
Panelists:
Chuck Brooks, Professor, Georgetown University, CEO, Brooks Consulting International, Skytop Contributor & Host of “Intelligence Briefing”, SkytopTV Talk Show Series
Robert Liscouski, Chairman, Quantum Computing, Inc., Skytop Contributor and Host, SkytopTV Talk Show Series
Michael Frankel, Founder and Managing Partner, Trajectory Capital
5:15-5:55 PM | Panel Discussion
Driving M&A Success: The Crucial Role of Talent
Moderator:
Panelists:
Dwain Celistan, Managing Partner, Diversity Practice, DHR Global
Nick Graziano, Partner, 2717 Partners, and Skytop Contributing Author, Host of “Inside the Corporate Boardroom”, SkytopTV Talk Show Series
John Glenn Grau, President and CEO, InvestorCom
5:55-6:00 PM | Closing Remarks
6:00-7:00 PM | Networking Reception
SPEAKERS
DELEGATES
Fred R. Pletcher
Partner
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Bob Marese
President
MacKenzie Partners, Inc.
New York, NY
John Glenn Grau
President and CEO
InvestorCom
New York, NY
David A. Katz
Partner
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
New York, NY
Eric Rosenfeld
CEO
Crescendo Partners
New York, NY
Arthur Kohn
General Counsel
Leading Corporate Governance Expert
Skytop Contributing Author
Chair of the Editorial Committee, Skytop Media Group
New York, NY
Jeremy Fielding
Co-Chief Executive Officer, Partner, Kekst CNC
Skytop Contributing Author
Host of “Board GPS”, SkytopTV Talk Show Series
New York, NY
Dwain Celistan
Managing Partner, Diversity Practice
DHR Global
Hinsdale, IL
Francisco J. Morales Barron
Partner, Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity
Vinson & Elkins LLP
New York, NY
Sheila Hooda
Independent Board Director, Various Boards
Wellington, Florida
Mauro da Cunha
Independent Director
Senior Advisor, Engage.MC
Miami, Florida
Solade Rowe
Managing Partner, Diversity & Inclusion Practice
Jobplex
Washington, D.C.
Jessica Bayer
Managing Partner, Corporate Affairs and Communications
DHR Global
Washington, D.C.
Larry Schimmel
Managing Director
MacKenzie Partners, Inc.
New York, NY
Daniel Sullivan
Senior Vice President
MacKenzie Partners, Inc.
New York, NY
Alexandre Chenesseau
Managing Director, M&A Advisory & Investments (Professional Role)
CMD Global Partners
Member, Council on Foreign Relations &
Trade Advisor, Republic of France (External Affiliations)
New York, NY
Chuck Brooks
Professor, Georgetown University
CEO, Brooks Consulting International
Skytop Contributor
Host of “Intelligence Briefing”, SkytopTV Talk Show Series
Washington, D.C.
Skarlett Vaca
Analyst
InvestorCom
New York, NY
Josh Hochberg
Global COO
Edelman Smithfield
New York, NY
Jeffrey Taufield
Vice Chairman, Partner, Founding Member
Kekst CNC
New York, NY
Ashe Reardon
Partner
Kekst CNC
New York, NY
Robert McCormick
Executive Director
Council of Institutional Investors
Washington, D.C.
Deepak Gill
Partner
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Vancouver, Canada
Sam Taylor (Unconfirmed)
Head of Corporate Intelligence, Americas
S-RM
New York, NY
Robert Liscouski
Chairman
Quantum Computing, Inc.
Skytop Contributor and
Host, SkytopTV Talk Show Series
Washington, D.C.
Marcy Sharon Cohen
Managing Director, General Counsel and Head of Regulatory Affairs
ING Americas
New York, NY
Jan C. Childress
Director of Investor Relations
Consolidated Edison
New York, NY
Nick Graziano
Partner, 2717 Partners,
and Skytop Contributing Author
Host of “Inside the Corporate Boardroom”
SkytopTV Talk Show Series
Greenwich, Connecticut
Ryan Tomicic
Partner
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Lowell Robinson
Experienced Board Director and Advisor
New York, NY
Hans Hoogervorst
Former Dutch Finance Minister
Public Policy Expert and Skytop Contributing Author
The Hague, Netherlands
Susan Skerritt
Board Director, Tanger, Inc.
and former CEO, Banking
New York, NY
Steven Crowley
Director of Business Development
CFO Consulting Partners
Westport, Connecticut
Ronald Orol
Senior Editor
The Deal
Washington, D.C.
Chad Rucker
Senior Managing Director
Valuation Research Corporation
New York, NY
Barak Orbach
Robert H. Mundheim Professor of Law and Business
University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law
Tucson, Arizona
Jonathan Lurvey
Managing Director
Mergers & Acquisitions, Energy Sector
Bank of America
New York, NY
Adrienne Ramsay
Board Member
Founder, Delphi Strategies
Aerospace Corporate Strategy & M&A Expert
Former Congressional Appropriator
Skytop Contributing Author
Washington, D.C.
Marty Nass
Vice Chairman & Partner, Global Real Estate Practice
DHR Global
New York, NY
Dan Carney
Partner
DHR Global
New York, NY
John Bryan
Managing Director
MacKenzie Partners, Inc.
New York, NY
Gregory Monahan
Managing Director
Crescendo Partners
Independent Board Director
New York, NY
Bill Deckelman
Chief Legal Officer, Andersen
Vice Chairman of The Howard Baker Forum AI Collaborative
McLean, Virginia
Doug Jaffe
Managing Director
InvestorCom
New York, NY
Michelle Richards
Senior Director
InvestorCom
New York, NY
August Vlak
Partner and Managing Director
Barington Capital Group, L.P.
New York, NY
Ira Gorsky
Managing Director, Special Situations and Investor Relations
Edelman Smithfield
New York, NY
Mark Fallati
Principal
Kekst CNC
New York, NY
Dave El Helou
Managing Director, Private Capital Advisory
Evercore
New York, NY
Pieter Idenburg
Strategic Advisor, Europe
Skytop Media Group
The Hague, Netherlands
Jean Haggerty
Senior Reporter, Activism
The Deal
New York, NY
Gianna McCarthy
Director Of Corporate Governance
New York State Office of the Comptroller
Pension Investment and Cash Management
New York, NY
Richard Mansouri
Investments, Public Equity
Arkhouse
New York, NY
Michael Frankel
Founder and Managing Partner
Trajectory Capital
New York, NY
Skytop Studio & Nearby Hotels
Skytop Studio | 488 Madison Ave, 2nd Floor, NYC
Skytop Studio is located in the famous Look Building at 488 Madison Avenue between 51st and 52nd Streets. This 23-story office building was designed in the International Style by Emery Roth & Sons. Originally named for its primary tenant, Look Magazine, directly across from St. Patrick's Cathedral, this landmark has undergone extensive renovations while retaining its original character.
Last year, Skytop designed a state-of-the art hub, its home base along with a beautifully appointed open space, a glimmering reception area, a workshop room and a newsroom set up for its growing operations. Located one story above street level, it has floor to ceiling windows, soundproof glass and views of Madison Avenue's street life.
Given the launching of SkytopTV, it serves as a multipurpose space while we finalize our plans to build out an additional 30,000 square feet, to support our growth in staffing and four additional state-of-the-art studios. Once launched, this space will house some of our team, Skytop Studio, along with individual consultation rooms.
It's the perfect space for convening, networking and receptions.
Hotels Nearby
Omni Berkshire Place
The Omni Berkshire Place is a luxury hotel located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Situated on 21 E 52nd St, it's just steps away from iconic attractions like St. Patrick's Cathedral, Rockefeller Center, and Radio City Music Hall. The hotel offers spacious and elegantly designed rooms, many of which feature outdoor terraces with city views. Guests can enjoy amenities such as a fitness center, Berk's Bar for cocktails, and a terrace with stunning views of St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Hotel 48LEX
The Hotel 48LEX is a luxury boutique hotel located in Midtown East, Manhattan, New York City. It offers a sophisticated guesthouse experience with the charm of a residentially-styled, upscale boutique hotel. The hotel features elegant and high-style accommodations, including various salon rooms and suites with floor-to-ceiling windows, luxurious bedding, and private terraces. Guests can enjoy amenities such as a fitness center, upscale dining options, and a wine program.
The Renwick Hotel
The Renwick Hotel is a charming boutique hotel located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Nestled between Lexington and Park Avenues, it offers a blend of Old New York glamour and modern comforts. The hotel features loft-style rooms and suites, many of which were once artists' studios, providing a unique and creative atmosphere. Guests can enjoy amenities such as a fitness center, upscale dining options, and a prime location near iconic attractions like Bryant Park, Grand Central Terminal, and Times Square.