As Chief Executive Officer, Blake Prunsky provides a range of skills that are vitally important to the evolution and expansion of Thunderbird. He sets the strategic vision and targets for all of the Thunderbird holdings, including identifying and onboarding new acquisitions.
Blake oversees mergers and acquisitions, including post-merger integration and growth strategies. He has been responsible for negotiating a majority of the acquisitions that have helped Thunderbird grow into the successful portfolio it is today. Blake has a hands-on approach, remaining intimately involved with each plant, hosting regular meetings with both Thunderbird's Executive Leadership Team as well as General Managers.
Prior to his role as CEO, Blake served as Thunderbird's Chief Strategy Officer managing a wide range of corporate development responsibilities He provided end-to-end deal management involving a series of complex tasks, including identifying ideal acquisition targets; managing relationships with investment banks, business brokers, and other sources of acquisition opportunities; validating potential targets' fit within the Thunderbird family of companies; negotiating deal terms; coordinating due diligence efforts, working in conjunction with the legal team to prepare all acquisition-related documents; and integrating acquisitions.
Blake comes to Thunderbird from Westbourne Capital Partners, where he was an integral member of the Westbourne team, supporting all phases of the investment process from initial deal screening, investment thesis development, and due diligence through to close and investment monitoring. During his time at Westbourne, Blake developed extensive experience working with and investing in American manufacturing businesses. Blake's previous mergers and acquisition experience encompasses a wide variety of transactional situations such as working with closely held family-owned businesses on a smooth transition to new ownership or highly distressed situations requiring either in- or out-of-court transactions.
Blake earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business.
