Philippe tartavull biography of barack

Transaction Characteristics: 

• Investment Type – Control investments

• Enterprise Value – Up to $2.5 billion

• Core Sectors – Critical technologies including Advanced Manufacturing, A.I., Automation, Data Security, Energy Storage, Financial Technology, IoT, Industrial Software, Microelectronics , Power Management, Robotics, and Wireless Communications Equipment

• Geography – United States and our Allied Nations

Because every Company has unique needs, each transaction benefits from a highly-customized investment structure.

Our principals apply decades of experience growing companies – and overcoming challenges along the way.

Representative Experience: 

For over 30 years, TKB/C’s team members have immersed themselves in the growth and transformation of companies across the globe.

Angela Blatteis
Co-Founder and Managing Partner

Angela has over 30 years of experience in private equity and investment banking. She has served as a Managing Partner of TKB Capital since 2019. Prior to TKB Capital, Angela served as Co-Founder, CEO, and CFO of Soupure from 2014 to 2019, a startup food company that distributed soup to consumers and businesses.

From 1996 to 2015, Angela served as Managing Director (1996-2012) and Ambassador (2012-2015) of The Gores Group (“Gores”), a global investment firm. During her time at Gores, Angela led several high-profile acquisitions and divestitures, including the Verifone transaction in which Gores sold Verifone to GTCR LLC, a private equity firm, and then Gores and GTCR took Verifone public (NYSE: VFI). She was also actively involved in taking Anker Systems (AIM: ANK) public through the London Alternative Investment Market. While at Gores, Angela also co-headed Global Equity Capital, a Gores-related entity, in which she completed highly successful transactions, including Sound Design Technologies, Scovill Fasteners, the take-private transaction of The Clark Group (AMEX: GLA), and the take-private transaction and subsequent merger of Halifax Corporation (OTPCK: HALX) with another enterprise logistics business that was purchased as a carve-out from Northrop Grumman.

Prior to Gores, Angela worked in investment banking focusing on mergers, acquisitions, bankruptcies, and risk arbitrage at First Boston and Cowen & Company from 1987 to 1991. She served on the board of directors at Interlink Electronics (NASDAQ:LINK) (2013-2020) and Hyperspace (2005-2006). Angela has also served on the Advisory Council to the Dean for the University of Chicago — Booth School of Business since 2012, is currently a council member for GLG Associates, and was previously on the Advisory Board of First Foundation’s Los Angeles based private bank. She earned an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Chicago — Booth School of Business and a B.A. in Economics from the University of California at Berkeley.

Greg Klein
Co-Founder and Managing Partner

Greg is a serial entrepreneur with over 35 years of deep operational experience building scalable and sustainable companies in the industrials, software, engineering services, supply chain, payments, and marketing services sectors.

Greg co-founded TKB Capital in 2017 and has been a Managing Partner since then. From 2000 to 2017, he founded and led KleinPartners Capital Corporation, a middle-market investment firm that acquired, scaled, and sold businesses with operations in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Greg has completed 30 transactions and divestitures, including EPEC LLC, in which, as Executive Chairman, the team experienced exponential sales growth, transforming EPEC LLC from a low tech regional printed circuit board manufacturing company into a global engineered products technology company. Prior to KleinPartners Capital Corporation, he founded and sold multiple companies by the age of 35, including Premiere Marketing, which was listed twice on the INC 500 Fastest Growing Companies and was originally listed at #64, when Greg was 25 years old.

Greg is a co-founder and Chairman Emeritus of YPO Pacific Gold, a global leadership community of chief executives. He most recently served as Chairman of EPEC LLC (2002-2021) and is a director of multiple non-profit businesses. He earned his B.A. from the University of California at Los Angeles.

Philippe Tartavull
Co-Founder and Managing Partner

Philippe has over 35 years of experience leading public and private global technology companies in the infrastructure, industrials, payments and telecommunications, convergence of technologies, hardware, and software sectors.

Since 2017, Mr. Tartavull has served as a member of the board of trustees of the American University in Paris. He co-founded TKB Capital in 2017 and has been a managing partner since then. From 2012 through 2016, Philippe served as President and CEO of Xura/Comverse, Comverse Network Systems (“Xura”), where he helped to transform Xura into a leading provider of software and systems for value-added services through a number of divestitures and acquisition. Through this process, Xura was sold to a private equity firm. Prior to Xura, he served as CEO, President, and Director of Hypercom Corporation (NYSE:HYC) (2007-2011), during which Hypercom doubled revenues though organic growth and strategic transactions with the acquisition of the European headquartered Thales POS division. Hypercom was sold to VeriFone (NYSE: VFI) in 2011.

Prior to Hypercom Corporation, Philippe was the President and CEO of Oberthur Technologies USA (now called IDEMIA) from 1998 to 2007, in which he worked to significantly grow revenue and expand Oberthur into new verticals, namely security and telecommunications through organic growth and through the integration of a subsidiary of De La Rue USA. Prior to IDEMIA, Philippe served as President and CEO of Syesca USA, a Thales Company and provider of system integration and mission critical software for the transportation and utility industries, from 1988 to 1998.

Philippe has served and currently serves on the board of public and private companies including Composecure, which has announced publicly their intention to become a public entity through a merger with Roman DBDR Tech Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company; Hypercom Corporation (2007-2011); XURA/Comverse, MRV Communications (OTCQB:MRVC) (2009-2011); and Wilcox Inc. (1996-1998), which is now a part of Thales USA, Inc. He earned his M.B.A. from the Institut d’Administration des Enterprises, Sorbonne University, his M.S. in Engineering from Ecole Nationale Superieure des Pétroles et des Moteurs, and his B.S. in Engineering from SUPMECA (previously named Centre d’Etudes Supérieures des Techniques Industrielles).

Bertrand Leroux
Operating Partner

Bertrand is an industry-renowned, global technology executive and brings over 30+ years management and operating experience, with specific expertise in the areas of business applications, software, IT services and hardware infrastructure. He is responsible for the initial evaluation and operational due diligence of new investment opportunities, driving post-close strategic technology innovation and digital transformation initiatives, and providing enterprise-level IT strategy/roadmap planning across portfolio companies.

Prior to joining TKB/C, Bertrand served as SVP, Global Chief Information Officer and Head of Global Strategic Sourcing for Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI) for over a decade where he led high performing global teams of over 150+ staff and managed an annual technology budget exceeding $60M+, driving customer value and delivering quality results, including successfully integrating the IT systems and teams for the Fortune 500 company’s $6B acquisition of King Digital Entertainment in 2016.

Prior to joining Activision Blizzard, Bertrand held various senior executive positions for 10 years with Vivendi SA (ENXTPA:VIV) including: Special Advisor to Vivendi CIO, and SVP, Global CIO for Vivendi Games, helping grow revenues from $500M to over $1B. Prior to joining Vivendi, Bertrand spent 10 years with The Walt Disney Company in Europe and the US as Global Licensing IT Director for Disney Consumer Products.

Educated in Paris, France, Bertrand earned his MBA in Logistic, IT and Organization and his BA in Finance at Paris IX Dauphine University.

Bertrand currently serves as Ambassador at the French Tech - Los Angeles, Body Member at the Evanta CIO Community California – By CIOs for CIOs, and the Foreign trade advisor of France - CCEF

Mark is the founder and chairman of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies LLC (“CPS”), a consulting group that works with clients to advocate their interests with decision-makers at all levels of government.

Prior to starting CPS, Mark was chairman of WolfBlock, LLP, a U.S. law firm and lobbying group, from 1997 to 2009. Mark has served as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital since 2011 and has been a member of the board of directors for the NASDAQ Futures Exchange (2011-2019) and the Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institute (2010-2013). He has also served on the Presidential Inaugural Committee (2009 and 2013), the National Finance Committee of the Democratic National Committee (2004-2012), the Board of Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania (2008-2009), the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team (2008-2009), the Board of Trustees of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (2000-2008), and co-chair of the Kerry for President National Finance Committee (2004). Mark earned a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School and a B.A. in History from Brown University.

Clark has overseen numerous M&A and financing transactions over his 40-year career, demonstrating an extensive knowledge and understanding of global financial markets and investing.

He is an active investor and has served on the board at Albany Road Real Estate Partners LP, a private real estate investment and management firm, since 2012. He co-founded Savvian LLC, an M&A advisory firm, in 2003. As Head of the firm’s Capital Market Advisory practice, he helped lead the firm through its merger with Japan’s GCA Holdings Corp. in 2014 and the combined entity’s listing on the Tokyo Stock exchange and subsequent acquisition of its European subsidiary, Altium, in 2016.

Prior to Savvian LLC, from 1993 to 2002, Clark held various positions at Robertson Stevens & Company, including Head of Corporate Finance. As a private investor, Clark has invested and served on the advisory boards at dozens of technology companies and venture capital funds. He served on the board of ChaSerg Technology Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ:CTAC), which acquired Grid Dynamics (NASDAQ:GDYN), in 2020. Clark earned an M.B.A from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. from Stanford University.

Laurent is the Founder and Principal of LJ1D Consulting, a business advisory firm, in San Diego, California working with global companies to penetrate new markets.

Laurent has a distinguished background in international business, with over three decades of experience in global strategy, product introduction, business development and sales. He has a track record of exceptional results in high technology and industrial sectors, including telecommunication, energy, and semiconductor. He has fostered global, enduring client relationships that make him uniquely qualified to help clients establish and grow global businesses.

Laurent's expertise lies in navigating the intricacies of global geo-political dynamics, regulatory frameworks, and ecosystems to create investment and sales opportunities for his clients. He has been instrumental in implementing legal structures and creating market entry strategies for his clients. His keen insights into emerging market trends and his ability to identify and capitalize on strategic investment prospects have consistently contributed to the growth and profitability of the companies he has served.

Prior to starting LJ1D Consulting, Laurent held key positions at leading multinational corporations, such as the Alcatel group, Nokia Mobile Phones and Qualcomm, where he launched several high-profile products worldwide.

Laurent has lived in Europe, Asia and North America. He holds an MBA from Ecole des Mines de Nancy (EMN), France, and an MS in Electrical Engineering from ESIGELEC in Rouen, France. He is fluent in French and English. In 2015, by decree of the French Prime Minister, Laurent was appointed a Foreign trade advisor of France (CCEF).

Jeff is President and Founder of J.A. Green & Company (2007-present), a boutique government relations firm serving over forty clients and named in the Top Lobbyist list by Bloomberg in 2019 and 2020 and The Hill in 2020. He formed J.A. Green & Company in 2007 to assist clients in the U.S. defense industrial base with their government relations, business development, and strategic planning goals.

With over 25 years of experience in the Department of Defense, on Capitol Hill, and as a business owner, Jeff has unique insight into the intersection of industry and government. Jeff’s most recent government position was Staff Director to the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness from 2006 to 2007. He also served as Counsel to the committee (2004-2007). During this time, he was primarily responsible for all matters related to supply chain, acquisition policy, industrial base issues, and an operation and maintenance budget over $150 billion.

Prior to his service on Capitol Hill, Jeff served as Legislative Director for the Coalition Provisional Authority Office of Legislative Affairs in 2003, working directly with senior CPA, Department of Defense, Department of State, Office of Management, and Budget and White House officials. He has written numerous articles on supply chains, the defense industry, government procurement, and strategic materials. He has appeared on CNN, Fox, NPR, and the BBC, and has been quoted in an array of publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, US News and World Report, The Financial Times, Bloomberg, Business Week, and USA Today. Jeff earned a J.D. from the University of Miami, a Masters of Law in Government Contracts from George Washington University, and a B.S. from Cornell University.

He is admitted to the practice of law in the District of Columbia, Florida, and New Jersey. Jeff is also is a past Co-Chair of the ABA Public Contract Law Section’s Legislative Coordinating Committee. He is a retired Air Force colonel (1995-2018).

In 1999, Tom Villante founded YapStone with the simple goal of converting bills commonly paid by paper check into online electronic payments. Today, YapStone processes over $18 billion in online and mobile payments and has raised over $110 million in capital. As Chairman and CEO, Tom leads the strategic vision, operational execution and global expansion of the company.

With his experience and expertise in the FinTech industry, Tom is focused on positioning YapStone’s innovative and proprietary payments platform to meet the needs of global marketplaces and large vertical markets. Prior to YapStone, Tom was a Partner at The Seidler Company, a private equity firm, and an investment banker with S.G. Warburg (now UBS) and William E. Simon & Sons.

In addition to his role at YapStone, Tom is a member of Young Presidents’ Organization (Santa Monica Bay) and has served on the Boards of local schools and charitable organizations. With 20 years of entrepreneurial experience, he is an active angel and real estate investor, frequent speaker at FinTech and Leadership conferences as well as a contributing writer to notable business publications. Tom earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Princeton University.