Today marks the successful completion of a refinancing for IBI Group Inc. Headquartered in Toronto, IBI Group is a globally integrated architecture, planning, engineering, and technology firm with over 2,200 professionals around the world.

A&M continues to globally expand its transaction advisory capabilities by strengthening its offerings for Latin America. The appointments of Los Angeles-based Managing Director Fabio Pires and Miami-based Managing Director Alvaro Araujo bring significant in-market expertise in nearly all countries across the region, including Brazil, Mexico Colombia, Chile and Peru, building on A&M's commitment to serve clients' global needs as evidenced by the firm's recent growth in Europe and Asia.

A&M's Healthcare practice ranks in the top 10 consulting firms as determined by the Modern Healthcare Magazine survey of the largest healthcare management consulting firms based upon 2014 client revenue. A&M climbed five spots in this survey from last year.

The opening of A&M’s Frankfurt office complements the strength of its Benelux and UK Transaction Advisory Group teams and enhances the firm’s ability to serve the pan-European market’s complex transaction advisory, performance improvement and turnaround needs. The recent appointment of Messrs. Schmitz, Morris and Grein augments the Transaction Advisory Group’s capability to create client-centric solutions that address key challenges and concerns.

Alaa Oumansour brings more than 15 years of operational and turnaround advisory experience. His primary areas of expertise are in performance improvement, strategy formulation, and cost optimization, particularly in the areas of sales & marketing, operations, technology and finance. He specializes in the Telecoms, IT, Media and FMCG sectors, where he has advised large multinational clients ranging in turnover from US$100m to over US$100 billion.

A&M announces four new hires based in its Paris office. The addition of Olivier Chatin as Managing Director, Etienne Leduc as Senior Director; Paul Lefaivre as Director and Pierre-Arthur Chatard as Senior Associate bolsters A&M’s suite of services and ability to create value for companies, investors and stakeholders in France and across Europe.

The addition of insurance industry veterans Arun Thakur, Gregory (Greg) Hoeg and Laki Balaji further strengthens A&M’s global transformation strategy and execution capability.

A&M continues to strengthen its Private Equity Performance Improvement Group with the additions of Senior Directors Andrew Bronstein based in Philadelphia, Mike Darland based in Boston, Klaus Weisenberger based in San Francisco, and James Guyette based in Chicago. These hires enhance A&M’s ability to meet the continuing demand for value creation with performance improvement services that address stakeholders’ needs.

Marios Koliopoulos presented key challenges and opportunities of the European banking sector at the Center of Financial Studies of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and SAS Greece, Cyprus Bulgaria.

Chief Director of Alvarez & Marsal (Greece) George Mantzavinatos, pointed out that Greece is on the international investment map. However, Stelios Zavvos, president and CEO, Zeus Capital Partners, noted that large investors check the performance of ten-year bonds, GDP growth and liquidity before investing in Greece.

George Mantzavinatos brings more than 20 years of experience in real estate having held management and leadership roles in the real estate arms of two of the systemic banks in Greece and in real estate firms. Mr. Mantzavinatos has successfully completed numerous real estate transactions for international and domestic clients.

Leading transformational change can appear daunting. Recent advances in change management methodology have improved tools to manage the people side of change. We can also look at other disciplines as a model changing behaviors.

Relentless pursuit of excellent client service is how colleagues describe Maryam Naderi's work ethic. Naderi, who is focused on the energy sector, has risen quickly through the ranks at Alvarez & Marsal—progressing from Consultant to Senior Director—in record time.

Charles Moore, who recently played a pivotal role in the historic restructuring of the City of Detroit, has joined global professional services firm Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) as a Managing Director in its Detroit office.

Grocers want to offer every available service, in the quickest time, at the lowest price for the consumer. However, ‘over-promising’ without the in-depth knowledge that enables the guaranteed delivery of goods at a set time to a set location, can negatively affect profits, supply chain, customers and reputation.