CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Erie Street, a strategic investment and advisory firm, announced the promotion of Jerry Graunke to President, and Tari Haro to Managing Director, Chief Marketing Officer, both of which are newly created roles at the firm. In a year of uncertainty, the firm doubled down on its investment thesis to capitalize on market disruptions and create growth momentum, expanding its portfolio partnerships and team by 50 percent year-over-year.
“Erie Street’s mission is to be the go-to transformation partner for businesses in digitally disrupted industries,” said Terry Graunke, CEO and Chairman of Erie Street. “To do this well, deep operational experience and an eye for strong talent is required – both of which are areas Jerry excels in. Since day one, Jerry has led the charge in transforming Erie Street’s partners through operational efficiency, executive talent, and M&A. As we continue to near-in on our investment thesis and advisory offering, I couldn’t be more excited – and proud – to have him as my partner.”
Formerly Principal, Jerry Graunke brings deep experience in strategic consulting (McKinsey & Company, Bain & Company), executive leadership (Epsilon), and high-growth company ownership to Erie Street and its portfolio partners. As President, Graunke will continue to lead the company’s investment strategy as well as M&A for its portfolio partners. In addition, he will be responsible for overseeing operations for Erie Street and Performance Improvement Partners, a technology consultancy built to serve the private equity sector, which Erie Street acquired in January 2020. Terry Graunke, Chairman and CEO, will continue to lead the firm’s overarching strategy and advisory offering, in addition to executive strategy for the firm’s portfolio partners.
Tari Haro, formerly Principal at Erie Street, brings over 20 years of go-to-market and CMO leadership through executive agency roles (Agency.com, Eagle River Interactive, iCrossing), client-side leadership roles (SIM Partners, Cars.com), and agency delivery (Edelman) to Erie Street and its portfolio partners. As Managing Director, Chief Marketing Officer, Tari will continue to lead the design of Erie Street’s go-to-market strategy and overarching investment thesis, in addition to building a go-to-market offering and team to deliver next-level growth across Erie Street’s partnerships.
“Since joining us in July 2019, Tari immediately jumped in to help our partner companies – and Erie Street – reach the next level,” said Jerry Graunke. “She has acted as interim CMO for over half of our portfolio partners, while building a team of go-to-market experts to support our advisory offering. The value she brings in refining Erie Street’s overarching strategy simply can’t be found anywhere else, and as a tenured CMO, Erie Street and its partners are at an advantage with Tari on our side.”
In 2020, Erie Street made significant moves to expand its capital partnerships, including the acquisition of IT consulting firm, Performance Improvement Partners, and by establishing a strategic partnership with APCO Worldwide, a leading advisory and advocacy communications consultancy. The firm also added Matt Hallgren as Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer, while expanding its team of go-to-market, M&A, operations, and financial advisors. Today, Erie Street has invested or partnered with four founder-led services businesses – 3Q Digital, APCO Worldwide, ICR, and Performance Improvement Partners – to design and deliver next-level growth in the context of today’s disruptive marketplace.
“Erie Street invested in 3Q Digital in May of 2019 and the growth we have experienced since has been record-breaking,” said David Rodnitzky, founder of 3Q Digital. “The Erie Street team immediately rolled up their sleeves to help us refine our go-to-market strategy and bolster our leadership team, and now we’re digging in further to build an M&A strategy and pipeline. Erie Street fits well into 3Q’s ‘accept no limits’ culture, and I’m enthusiastic about what’s ahead.”
Terry Graunke, Chairman and CEO, will continue to lead the firm’s overarching strategy and advisory offering, in addition to executive strategy for the firm’s portfolio partners. Graunke, an entrepreneur, operator, and investor, founded Erie Street in 2017 with the mission to build a strategic investment and advisory firm that provides capital and business changing advisory to companies in disrupted industries. Over his 30-plus year career, Graunke has been the director, CEO, or Chairman of nearly 40 private and public firms, 11 startups, and has overseen hundreds of M&A transactions and integrations, and has a proven track record of founding, operating, and growing service-led businesses in disruptive industries to achieve transformational growth.
ABOUT ERIE STREET
A strategic and operational growth partner, Erie Street is a Chicago-based, independent advisory firm leveraging its operational heritage and entrepreneurial spirit to work with founders and management teams to achieve next-level growth. The firm brings corporate advisory, operational excellence, and go-to-market strategies to highly disrupted and changing business environments to mitigate risk, realize potential, and deliver exceptional value. Erie Street is led by Founder, Chairman and CEO Terry Graunke, a proven leader in the marketing services and digital communications industry. For more information, please visit eriestreet.com.
