co-managing a $1 billion bond deal for the Citizens of Louisiana Self Insurance Fund, the proceeds of which were used to replenish existing reserves and pay claims for Hurricane Katrina victims. The deal was the first post-Katrina financing. Reynolds has also been involved in a $300 million debt offering for DaimlerChrysler.
John B. Rhea. Managing Director & Co-Head of Global Consumer and Retail Investment Banking Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.
New York, NYAge: 41. Bottom Line: Rhea oversees Lehman’s investment banking group. Notable recent transactions for the global consumer retail group include the $3.5 billion Reynolds American Inc. acquisition of Conwood, one of the nation’s largest manufacturers of smokeless tobacco products. Lehman also participated in the $17.4 billion acquisition of Albertson’s Inc. by SUPERVALU, CVS, and an investment group led by Cerberus Capital Management L.P. Prior to Lehman, Rhea worked at JPMorgan Chase & Co. where he served as a managing director and co-head of the North American Consumer Group.
J. Donald Rice Jr. President Rice Financial Products Co. New York, NY Age: 47. Bottom Line: Rice’s firm is one of the oldest municipal derivative shops in the business, specializing in developing and executing traditional bond and derivatives-based transactions for state and local governments. The industry innovator is responsible for several financing coups, including interest rate swaps with Miami-Dade, which have saved the Florida county more than $50 million, and the first swap executed by the City of Houston. His total transactions represent more than $40 billion.
John W. Rogers. Founder, Chairman, CEO& Chief Investment Officer Ariel Capital Management Chicago, IL Age: 48. Bottom Line: Rogers founded the country’s first African American-owned money management firm in 1983. Today, Ariel has over $19 billion in assets under management. The firm manages accounts for institutional clients and serves individual investors and 401(k) plans through the Ariel Mutual Funds. In addition to being chairman and CEO, Rogers manages the firm’s small and mid-cap portfolios as well as the Ariel Fund and Ariel Appreciation Fund. Roger’s financial dexterity as a stock picker has proven that patience wins over flash. Ariel Fund ranks as one of the top performers in the mutual fund industry with a 13.6% 10-year annual total return.
Derek E. N. Saleeby. Executive Managing Director & Chief Investment Officer RLJ Select Investments L.L.C. Bethesda, MD Age: 41. Bottom Line: Saleeby was handpicked by BET founder Robert Johnson as a major player on RLJ’s hedge fund of funds. Created jointly with Deutsche Bank’s asset management division, RLJ seeks to build a world class, black-owned and -controlled hedge fund of funds. Saleeby worked previously for Citibank, Smith Barney, and PaineWebber in investment banking and capital markets. Saleeby is poised to drive fund value and company revenues.
Suzanne Shank. President, CEO & Co-Founder Siebert Brandford Shank & Co. L.L.C. Oakland, CA. Age: 44. Bottom Line: A municipal finance specialist, Shank has been lead financier on projects for issuers across the country including the state of Connecticut and cities such as Detroit, Chicago, and New York. She has overseen transactions for the