Robert E. Koe

Robert E. Koe
Corporate Advisor
rekoe@browndorfpem.com
949.579.2413

Throughout his entire career, Robert E. Koe has been involved with corporate restructurings, turnarounds, transformations, and start-ups, and for more than two decades, he has lead these efforts either as the CEO or as head of the business. Mr. Koe started his career at General Electric Company and its subsidiary General Electric Capital Corporation (GECC), where, over the course of 17 years, he held positions including Vice President & General Manager of Commercial Financial Services, Vice President & General Manager of Commercial Equipment Financing, and President of Acquisition Funding Corporation. Mr. Koe was recruited to Heller Financial, Inc. (HFI) at the time of Fuji Bank’s acquisition of HFI. In his six years with the company, Mr. Koe rose to the position of Vice Chairman of HFI, where he was directly responsible for all the domestic businesses of HFI (except for Commercial Real Estate), and all of the company’s operating profits. Mr. Koe also served as a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of HFI and its parent company, Heller International Corporation, as well as Heller Overseas Corporation.

• Most recently, Mr. Koe was President, CEO, and Chairman of Integrated Financial Systems Inc. (IFS). Based in Denver, IFS provided a software and financial solution to hospitals for self-pay patients. The board of directors hired Mr. Koe, where he was able to raise a bridge facility allowing for a comprehensive evaluation of the business model. Upon consultation with the company’s investment banker and the board, and despite sufficient cash to remain in business for an additional 4-6 months, Mr. Koe made the decision to maximize return of principal to the bridge note holders by shutting down the company.
• As President and Chief Executive Officer of Koe Capital Partners, LLC, in conjunction with QuoCap Financial, Inc., Mr. Koe headed up a concept development team that developed a hybrid corporate loan product for publicly traded small/micro-cap companies. Mr. Koe recruited senior executives from the specialty finance and investment banking industries, and was successful in securing the backing of a major New York-based alternative asset management company.
• Recruited to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer of Comdisco Global Holding Company Inc. after the parent’s bankruptcy filing, Mr. Koe was responsible for maximizing the value of €1.0 billion of assets in 14 operating companies located in as many countries. Five companies were supported and nurtured with four ultimately being sold as going concerns while the other nine companies were liquidated immediately to maximize value. This project was completed in May 2003, six months ahead of Plan and more than 50% ahead of budget.
• Mr. Koe completed multiple assignments with publicly traded financial services firm Ocwen Financial Corporation, including the successful start-up of an international service operation concentrating on non-performing assets. During his tenure with Ocwen, Mr. Koe was responsible for all commercial activities including discounted loan acquisitions and resolution activities, real estate lending, investments in low-income housing tax credits, and lending to and servicing non-conforming single-family residential mortgages. He also served on the board of directors.
• As Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of United States Leather, Inc. (USL), a public company with approximately 2,000 employees, generating $375 million of annual worldwide sales controlled by Bear Stearns & Company, Mr. Koe grew USL to be the world’s largest tanner and supplier of top grain cowhide and finished upholstery leather, with significant increases in profitability and cash flow, and initiated profitable strategic alliances in Argentina, Thailand, and China.

A native of Chicago, Mr. Koe is a member of the Board of Trustees of Kenyon College, his alma mater, where he received a Bachelor’s Degree. Mr. Koe has served on numerous corporate and philanthropic boards.