Focus has been founded by a group of experienced managers in wealth and investment management, with a track record in new business development.
Ruediger (Rudy) Adolf
Chief Executive Officer
Rudy founded Focus after a career in financial services in the US and Europe. Most recently Rudy was Senior Vice President and General Manager of the American Express (AMEX) Global Brokerage and Banking division, leading advisor, brokerage and banking initiatives both in the US and overseas. These businesses supported close to 10,000 independent and employed advisors with over $45 billion in assets in the US. Prior to this, Rudy was the Senior Vice President of Strategy and Business Development, reporting to the CEO of American Express. In this position, Rudy led the strategic initiatives for the group, developing a number of new business ventures and spearheading the firm’s major M&A activities. Before joining AMEX, Rudy was a partner at McKinsey and Company in New York, primarily focusing on financial services firms. Rudy began his career with McKinsey in Munich. Rudy holds a Doctorate and Master Degree in Law from the University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Leonard (Lenny) Chang
Senior Vice President
Lenny co-leads business development and acquisitions for Focus. Before joining Focus, Lenny was with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), primarily advising financial services and high technology clients. At BCG, he worked on a range of assignments for institutional asset management and financial brokerage firms, including the development of entry strategies through registered investment advisors. At American Express, Lenny worked in the Strategy and Business Development Group, where he helped create, develop and build a new asset-allocated funds business for the company’s private bank and financial advisor clients. He also has worked at the venture capital firm Frontline Capital, where he focused on outsourced business services investments. Lenny received his MBA from Harvard Business School and his BS in Economics with dual concentration in Finance and Management from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Lenny lives in San Francisco.
Rajini Kodialam
Senior Vice President
Rajini is responsible for acquisitions and for leading the service and process development for Focus. In this capacity Rajini focuses on identifying opportunities for leverage based on internal and external best practices. Prior to Focus, Rajini was a Vice President at American Express in New York, where she managed the overall online experience for the US Consumer Card and Travel businesses providing online acquisition, e-marketing and self-servicing for over 22 million premium card members. Rajini also worked in the Strategy and Business Development Group at AMEX where she helped launch new online brokerage and banking services. Before joining AMEX, Rajini was at McKinsey and Company in New York, working primarily on strategic initiatives for consumer financial services firms. Rajini also worked with IBM, marketing software services across Asia and the US. Rajini holds an MBA in Finance and Marketing from Columbia Business School and a BS in Computer Science from Delhi University, India.
Michael Paley
Senior Vice President
Michael is responsible for business development and acquisition activities at Focus, working with prospective advisory firms to identify opportunities to partner with Focus. Before joining Focus, Michael was a principal at Kidd & Company, a private equity firm. At Kidd, he was responsible for identifying, structuring and managing the company's strategic acquisitions, including investments in the business services arena. Michael had previously worked in the strategic and financial planning group at Pepsi-Cola North America. Before joining Pepsi, he served as a strategy consultant at Braxton Associates where he worked on several initiatives in the financial services arena. Michael received an MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School and a BSE in Operations Research, magna cum laude, from Princeton University.
James (Jim) Shanahan
Chief Financial Officer
Jim is responsible for overseeing the financial activities at Focus. Prior to joining Focus in October 2006, Jim was the Chief Financial Officer/VP of Operations for an enterprise software security subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation. Prior to Microsoft, Jim served in the Chief Financial Officer/VP of Operations roles for Sybari Software Inc, a private equity backed enterprise software company which was successfully sold to Microsoft in June 2005. Before joining Sybari Software, Jim worked as a senior audit manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP where he provided financial advisory and audit services to private and public entities regarding IPO’s, merger and acquisitions and related SEC matters. Jim is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a MBA/BBA from Hofstra University.
Bettina Eckerle
General Counsel
Bettina is responsible for all legal matters at Focus. Prior to joining Focus in August 2007, Bettina was the General Counsel of DigitalGlobe Inc., the world’s leading company in the commercial earth imagery and geospatial information market where she developed and built the legal department and oversaw all legal aspects. She joined DigitalGlobe from Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, where she spent five years servicing top domestic and international corporate clients in mergers and acquisitions, financings and with general corporate advice. Prior to joining Wachtell, Bettina spent four years in the corporate department of Debevoise & Plimpton in New York where she advised clients in a variety of corporate matters, including securities (IPOs) and mergers and acquisitions. Her legal experience is rounded out by four years in commercial banking with a top European commercial bank in New York and Munich. Bettina received her law degree with honors from Ludwig-Maximilians-University in Munich, Germany , and her LLM (CJ) from New York University. She is a member of the New York and Munich Bar and the American Bar Association.
Jennifer Geoghegan
Vice President
Jennifer is responsible for marketing and public relations at Focus. Prior to Focus, Jennifer was Vice President of Card Acquisitions at American Express where she marketed premium card products to affluent prospects. During her tenure at American Express she also worked on new product development, customer loyalty and retention, and interactive marketing, giving her experience across the full affluent consumer lifecycle. Prior to American Express, Jennifer was a Media Supervisor at ad agency Berenter Greenhouse & Webster, managing the Starbucks and Gund accounts. She began her career in international advertising and media at Toys”R”Us, Inc. Jennifer holds an MBA in Marketing and International Business from the New York University Stern School of Business and a BA in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia.
Richard (Rich) Gill
Vice President
Rich is responsible for business development and acquisition activities at Focus with a particular concentration on advisors turning independent. Prior to joining Focus, Rich was a Director of Strategy at Schwab Institutional. At Schwab, Rich helped launch new products and services for Schwab’s 5,000 RIA clients, including the commission partnership between Schwab Institutional and Cambridge to provide superior service to advisors leaving captive environments. Rich also worked as the Chief of Staff to the President of Schwab Institutional, where he was responsible for coordinating strategic planning and analysis for the senior management team. Before joining Schwab, Rich was at Silver Lake Partners where he performed financial analysis and due diligence on technology leveraged buyouts. Rich also worked with Viant Group investment bank advising public and private clients on acquisitions, mergers, and restructurings. Rich holds a BA from St. Catherine’s College, Oxford and lives in San Francisco.
Jordan Szekely
Vice President
Jordan is responsible for business development and acquisition activities at Focus. Prior to Focus, Jordan was at Veronis Suhler Stevenson, a $3 billion private equity firm, where he was responsible for originating, evaluating, executing, and monitoring private equity investments. Jordan also worked at TA Associates, a $12 billion private equity firm, and at Lehman Brothers in the Merger & Acquisition group. Jordan received his MBA from Columbia Business School and his BA in Economics and Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.
Vamsi Yadlapati
Vice President
Vamsi is responsible for business development and acquisition activities at Focus, with particular emphasis on European partnerships. Prior to joining Focus, Vamsi was with Summit Partners, the financial backer behind Focus. At Summit, he was responsible for identifying, structuring and executing the firm’s investments. His deal experience there primarily focused on financial services transactions, including leading the Focus investment. Vamsi had previously worked in the investment banking group at Salomon Smith Barney, executing M&A, equity and debt transactions. He has also worked as an independent consultant, providing financial advice and services to companies in various industries. Vamsi received his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and his BS in Business Administration with Highest Honors from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.