I am Steve Ellis, a CEO, CFO, board director, and shareholder value creator who executes turnaround performance.

Steve Ellis's Bio:

Steve Ellis is CFO of Regent Holding Company, an international private-equity owned home products company located in Memphis, Tennessee. Regent owns five companies from the U.S. to Asia to Europe and sells three major brands into independent retailers, e-commerce, and big box retailers across three continents. He joined Regent in 2020 after over 25 years of progressively higher leadership positions in primarily international manufacturing corporations. He was most recently CFO of Protect Plus Holdings, a private-equity owned consumer goods manufacturing company. Protect Plus is the largest manufacturer of residential air filters in the U.S. and its products are sold into big box retailers across the U.S. Before Protect Plus he was CEO and a director on the board of Automated Solutions, a $20 million multi-family owned diversified manufacturing company of flexible protective packaging and construction products, sold across the U.S. and internationally, including in The Home Depot stores. Steve led the company to its five best years over its 20-year history with an EBITDA growth rate of 40%, added new product lines, and tripled manufacturing footprint and number of employees. Prior to Automated Solutions, Steve served in a variety of leadership positions both nationally and internationally. He was CFO and a director on the board of HSM Solutions (formerly Hickory Springs Manufacturing Company), a $550 million multi-family owned global diversified manufacturer of furniture, bedding, and transportation components. He was a VP with Tarkett, one of the largest global manufacturers of integrated flooring and sports surface solutions at over $2 billion in revenues. Tarkett was publicly-traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange at that time. Before Tarkett he held a number of roles including UK & Ireland Finance Director at Gate Gourmet, at over $2 billion in revenues the world’s largest independent provider of airline catering and provisioning services. Gate Gourmet was owned by global private equity firm TPG. His positions with Gate Gourmet took him to places across the U.S. and beyond, including almost three years living internationally in both Zurich and London. Steve started his career as a Naval Officer in 1988 where he gained early leadership and operations experience as a line officer and international experience with a total of a year deployed to the Mediterranean Sea. He transitioned from military service into Big 4 public accounting, first with PwC and then with EY. His first role in the corporate world was as a controller for Horseshoe Gaming, at that time a $460 million privately-held company with publicly-traded debt and SEC filings. Steve was raised in Fayetteville, Arkansas and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Louisiana State University and a Master of Business Administration degree from The University of Memphis. He currently lives in Germantown, Tennessee with his wife Cadie Jessup Ellis, a strategy execution expert at Wells Fargo. Steve is ultra-competitive in everything but is best in tennis and golf and enjoys maintaining a high fitness level, including competing in the first Obstacle Course Racing World Championship in 2014 and climbing Mount Shasta in June 2021 for Breast Cancer Prevention Partners, which, at over 14,000 feet, is the fifth-highest mountain in California.

Steve Ellis's Experience:

  • CFO at Regent Holding Company

    2020 - Present | Memphis, TN

    Middle market private equity owned home décor manufacturer and distributor with global sales footprint, selling into big box, small retail, and e-commerce under the separate companies of Creative Co-Op, Illume, Bloomingville, and Household Essentials. Five global locations and 900 employees.

  • CFO at Protect Plus Holdings

    2018 - 2020 | Hickory, NC

    Private equity-owned residential air filter consumer goods manufacturer with national sales footprint. Four plants, 1,000 employees, and retail relationships with some of the largest retailers in the country, including The Home Depot, Menards, and Walmart.

  • CEO and board member at Automated Solutions

    April 2013 - 2018 | Sawmills, North Carolina

    Multi-family owned diversified manufacturing company with product lines primarily in the packaging industry with Cro-nel® and Nyvel® protective packaging products, specialty multi-layer bags, foam cold seal wrapping products, replacement vacuum cutting surfaces, and the HideSaver leather optimizing system. The company's products are sold across the U.S. as well as into Europe, Australia, and Mexico. Some of the company's packaging products are featured in the storage & organization department of The Home Depot.

  • CFO and board member at HSM Solutions

    2006 - 2013 | Hickory, NC

    Larger middle market multi-family owned diversified manufacturer, primarily in furniture and transportation. Over 50 locations and 2,500 employees across the U.S., Europe, and China.

  • VP Controlling, Residential North America at Tarkett

    November 2004 - June 2006 | Johnson City, Tennessee

    New position created through restructuring and organization change; reported to the President. Initially hired through a retained search as SVP Finance for Tarkett North America Wood Division, then promoted to SVP Finance Sales and Distribution for Tarkett U.S.

  • Finance Director, UK & Ireland at Gate Gourmet

    December 2002 - November 2004 | London, UNITED KINGDOM

    Promoted to Finance Director (CFO) and number two executive for region and reported to the Managing Director (CEO). Responsible for bonded retail operations across the UK and Ireland as well as regional maintenance in addition to the "typical" finance functions of finance, treasury, and accounting. Eight direct reports and responsible for 62 total employees. Member of board of directors for 9 legal entities.

  • Project leader at Gate Gourmet

    June 2002 - November 2002 | Zurich, SWITZERLAND

    Seconded by the Group Chief Financial Officer to manage the accounting and reporting work for a TPG $500M debt placement to finance TPG’s acquisition of Gate Gourmet. Re-consolidated and managed the audit of three years of financial statements under change to U.S. GAAP and GAAS from IAS (IFRS). Directed preparation of all financial information for both "back of the book" and "front of the book" that was initially going to be a public debt offering but changed near the end to a private placement.

  • Director of finance, e-Gate Solutions at Gate Gourmet

    June 2000 - June 2002 | Atlanta, Georgia

    Recruited by internal founder of company owned by Gate Gourmet and i2 Technologies; third employee of this start-up operation and reported to the CFO. Responsible for strategic and tax planning, baseline costing, compliance, HR, communications, and business development.

  • Director of development, Division Americas at Gate Gourmet

    May 1998 - June 2000 | Memphis, Tennessee

    Recruited by VP of Sales and Marketing to Initially lead pricing team of 3 direct reports and 16 total employees at Dobbs; after acquisition and reorganization reported to President with responsibility for business development, strategic planning, and industry research.

  • Controller at Horseshoe Casino

    November 1995 - May 1998 | Tunica, Mississippi

    Leader of 20 employees and all accounting activity. Reported to Vice President of Finance and Administration, head of the Finance Department. Responsible for all financial reporting, cash management, preparation and analysis of financial statements, and SEC reporting for the location. Served as de facto financial analyst for Horseshoe Gaming, the corporate parent.

  • Senior Accountant at EY (Ernst & Young)

    August 1994 - November 1995 | Jackson, Mississippi

    Directly responsible for the entire audit process - from planning to report issuance. Reported to Senior Audit Managers. Clients included companies in the casino and manufacturing industries. Experience in SEC filings.

  • Senior Auditor for Coopers & Lybrand at PwC

    August 1992 - August 1994 | New Orleans, Louisiana

    Directly responsible for the entire audit process - from planning to report issuance. Reported to Audit Managers. Clients included companies in the death care, securities, shipbuilding, transportation, and banking industries.

  • Naval Officer at US Navy

    December 1988 - June 1992 | Norfolk, Virginia

    First tour division line officer operations roles onboard a 600 foot, 19,000 ton amphibious cargo ship with a total crew of 400. Leader of 23 men, reported to department heads. Top secret clearance. Earned professional qualification as a Surface Warfare Officer. Cited by ship’s Commanding Officer as the best junior officer ship driver on board.

Steve Ellis's Education:

  • The University of Memphis

    1996 – 1998
    Master of Business Administration

  • Louisiana State University

    1986 – 1988
    Bachelor of Science
    Concentration: Accounting
    Activities: Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Navy ROTC

  • University of Pennsylvania

    1984 – 1986
    Attended
    Concentration: Civil Engineering
    Activities: Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Navy ROTC

Steve Ellis's Interests & Activities:

Family, friends, fitness, golf, tennis, sailing