Richard Thaler, Jr. Named to Gordon Brothers Group's Board of Directors

BOSTON, January 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Gordon Brothers Group, a global advisory, restructuring and investment firm specializing in the retail, consumer products, industrial and real estate sectors, announced today that Richard W. Thaler, Jr. has been named to the Company's Board of Directors.

Mr. Thaler brings over 30 years of experience in investment banking, both domestically and abroad, to the Board of Directors.  Mr. Thaler is currently Managing Partner of Lieutenant Island Partners, working as special counsel to BMO Capital Markets and multiple non-profit organizations. He previously spent 13 years at Deutsche Bank Securities, where he was co-head of the Industrial Group and from which he recently retired as a vice chairman. Prior to Deutsche Bank, Mr. Thaler was a managing director at Lehman Brothers for 16 years, acting as an advisor to corporations, pension funds, endowments, foreign governments, not-for-profits, unions and individuals. Throughout his career, Mr. Thaler has been involved in numerous debt and equity transactions, varied acquisitions, leverage buyouts, restructurings and cross-border transactions between the United States, South America, Asia and Europe. His deep experience in the industrial sector, knowledge of the private equity industry and expertise in complex debt and equity transactions will enhance Gordon Brothers Group's access to a broad array of industries and financial sponsors as well as complement the composition of the current board.

"I am very excited to have Rich join our Board of Directors. His proven success as a leader at prominent global investment banks and his deep experience in the industrial sector is exactly the perspective we need to continue to grow our enterprise," stated Gary M. Talarico, President & Chief Executive Officer, Gordon Brothers Group. "Our Commercial and Industrial business, under the joint leadership of Robert Himmel and Bob Maroney, has been our fastest-growing business over the past few years, and Rich's expertise in a variety of industries will be a source of valuable advice and support as we continue to expand this business. Also, Rich's experience in a vast range of complex debt and equity transactions will be of great value to our rapidly growing debt platform and our private equity strategy going forward."

Mr. Thaler added, "Gordon Brothers Group's reputation for maximizing value for operating companies, lenders and investors is well-known throughout the industries they touch. I look forward to working with the board and Gary both domestically and globally in any way I can to help Gordon Brothers expand their already formidable platform."

Mr. Thaler holds an MBA in finance from Harvard Business School and a BA in American political history from Princeton University. He is an adjunct professor of finance, teaching a seminar on private equity at Morehouse College. Mr. Thaler currently serves as President of the Board of Trustees of the Daily Princetonian, one of the nation's oldest daily college newspapers. In addition, he holds the following roles at various not-for-profit organizations: Vice Chairman of the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone, a publicly funded economic development agency; Trustee, Plimouth Plantation, a historical museum located in Plymouth, Massachusetts; Special Gifts Committee, Princeton University; Finance Committee, Chapel of St. James the Fisherman; and Trustee, American Antiquarian Society.

About Gordon Brothers Group

Founded in 1903, Gordon Brothers Group (http://www.gordonbrothers.com) is a global advisory, restructuring and investment firm specializing in the retail, consumer products, industrial and real estate sectors. Gordon Brothers Group maximizes value for both healthy and distressed companies by purchasing or selling all categories of assets, appraising assets, providing debt and equity financing, and operating businesses for extended periods. Gordon Brothers Group conducts over $50 billion worth of transactions and appraisals annually.