Who are the "A Teams"?

2021 was a good year for mergers-and-acquisitions bankers. Dealmakers made more than $5.5 trillion of M&A globally in 2021. This total far exceeds the previous record, which was $4.2 trillion in 2015.

These big transactions highlight the desire of big businesses to grow and spend money to facilitate this growth. Microsoft spent $20 billion to purchase Nuance Communications, and AT&T spent $43 billion to marry their WarnerMedia brand to Discovery.

However, who are the “A teams” making these incredible deals in a period where sales and trading dried up across the board?

Chris Gallea (Goldman Sachs) - $26 Billion

As the Vice Chairman of Investment Banking, Chris Gallea is no stranger to big deals - he was in the top 5 dealmakers of 2020. He joined Goldman Sachs in 2018 and is regarded as a big win for the firm.

With seven deals totalling $26 billion under his belt in 2021, Gallea continues to take in big money and prove to Goldman that his salary is justified. When the bank worked with DuPont during their $5.2 billion acquisition of electronic-materials giant Rogers, Gallea was their lead counsel.

Gary Posternack (Barclays) - $28 Billion

As the Global Head of M&A for Barclays, Gary Posternack has 35 years of deal-making experience to offer a situation. He only made two deals in 2021, but they brought in a staggering $28 billion.

These two deals were the acquisition of clinical-research company PPD for roughly $17.4 billion and then a $6.7 billion purchase of US pest-extermination firm Terminix.

Tony Kim (Centerview Partners) - $33 Billion

Third up on our list is Tony Kim. A big player with Centerview Partners, Kim is used to making large deals with major corporations.

Kim only struck two deals in 2021, but together they total $33 billion. The bulk of that comes from his advice for the hospital-systems provider Centre during their sale to Oracle for $29 billion. He is also just one of many professionals who expect to see more sales in 2022 of the same calibre.

Clint Gartin (Morgan Stanley) - $34 Billion

Clint Gartin has been a powerhouse with Morgan Stanley since he joined the company in 1981. In 2020, he was #1 on the list of dealmakers, and it’s not difficult to see why.

He took part in 3 deals in 2021, which together totalled out a value of a cool $34 billion. As a specialist in the healthcare industry, one of the big deals negotiated by Gartin was a $17 billion acquisition of the PPD, who has already been mentioned on the list today. He worked with their buyer, Thermo Fisher.

Final Thoughts

It’s clear that considerable deals were made during 2021. These dealmakers stand out for their ability to do well even under exceptional circumstances - the COVID-19 pandemic and its environmental consequences - and have proven themselves to be assets to their firms. Most predict 2022 will be equally prosperous, citing a newfound momentum as the reason for companies being willing to pay big money to see growth.

by William Finden

William Finden is the Founder and MD of Oaklands Global. He is a seasoned executive search and recruitment specialist with over 16 years of experience, dedicated to the international aviation & aerospace markets. William leads Oaklands Global’s C-Suite practice and has had a successful career delivering at the executive level for a diverse portfolio of clientele including Business Jet Operators, OEM’s, MRO’s, FBO’s Airlines and Rotary businesses. To learn more about how William can assist with your next career move or to discuss your next director level hire please contact him by email: william.finden@oaklandsglobal.com