Team
At the core of MOK Advisors is its people. Our leadership team has significant experience in mergers and acquisitions, management
consulting, and investing.
Michael O’Koomian
Founder and Managing Director
Michael O’Koomian is the Founder and Managing Director of MOK Advisors. He is responsible for the firm’s strategy and operations, and is closely involved with every client engagement. Michael’s experience includes M&A advisory, growth/exit strategies and business valuation work for in many industries with deep knowledge of the Health, Fitness and Wellness sector.
Over the past decade, Michael has been a successful entrepreneur, acquiring, operating and divesting businesses in various industries as well as commercial real estate investments. In addition to his own investments, he has advised dozens of middle-market company owners in helping them acquire, sell and grow their businesses.
Michael began his professional career working for two global management consulting firms specializing in M&A and growth strategy engagements. As a management consultant, he was team leader on numerous consulting engagements for many Fortune 500 companies as well served as strategic advisor to top hedge funds, private equity and asset management firms.
After his consulting career, Michael transitioned to Wall Street. At Citigroup in New York City, he worked in management for the top-ranked Americas Equity Research division, running the U.S. Equity Research Morning Call, sitting on the Americas Equity Research Oversight Committee and several other Equity-related Investment Committees.
Michael is also a licensed commercial real estate broker. He resides in Essex, MA with his wife and twins.
Justin Lundberg, Esq.
Director
Before becoming an entrepreneur, Justin Lundberg was an associate at the Boston firm of Testa, Hurwitz and Thibeault, and the Manhattan firm of Proskauer Rose, LLP. While working as a large firm attorney, he had such clients as the New York Stock Exchange, and helped manage patent portfolios of large international pharmaceutical and technology companies. Justin also owns several businesses and eventually left practicing law full time in order to pursue entrepreneurial interests. He has been involved in ownership of everything from wire manufacturing businesses and solar farms, to outdoor recreational facilities, pre-schools and several full service health clubs. As a business owner, he has successfully bought and sold companies in diverse industries at different stages of growth and development, consistently adding value to their bottom lines.
Justin still practices laws privately, and is a licensed real estate broker in Massachusetts, completing both residential and commercial real estate sales, as well as leases. He is on the Board of Directors of a cannabis startup currently valued at over $100MM, and is an adjunct business professor at a local college. In his spare time, Justin is the Chairman of his town’s Zoning Board of Appeals and a Conservation Commissioner, as well as a youth soccer coach for his two daughters.
Christopher Wong
Vice President
Prior to assuming his current role, Wong served at a previous M&A advisory firm as an Associate and rose to Director and department head of the M&A team in three years’ time. He completed more than 50 transactions across multiple industries and business models, including e-commerce, SaaS, and marketing companies.
His previous work includes a variety of roles, including a CLO structurer for the Asset Management group at NewStar Financial (acquired by First Eagle Investment Management), a bond trader for a $42 billion fund at eSecLending, and various business development and strategy roles at a number of series-level startup companies. He is also an angel investor in several technology startups that have exited the top accelerator programs in the United States such as YCombinator.
Wong is a graduate of Bentley University with a major in finance and a minor in mathematics.
Testimonial 1
MOK Advisors approach is both deeply personal and deeply analytic. A combination that is rarely found in synergy within an individual. First, Michael establishes a foundation of steadfast professionalism and profound mutual respect that generally takes years of getting to know an individual. This makes the difficult task of trusting the person representing you, and the biggest decisions of your life easier at first, and then essential later down the road. As your banker, he learns your company inside and out, and in ways that you haven’t even looked at it. He spends an inordinate amount of time discussing the pitfalls and downsides of the sale so that when they occur, both broker and seller and prepared. Michael listens when it’s time to listen, negotiates when it’s time to negotiate, pulls back when it’s time to pull back. But most valuable of all, supports you when you weaken throughout the process.
Derik Fay
Around the Clock Fitness
Testimonial 2
MOK Advisors has been an invaluable resource for Alloy. As a strategic partner and trusted advisor, Michael has helped us navigate some very critical and complex negotiations. Michael is creative in his approach to problem solving and always keeps our companies’ best interests in mind. He’s also a genuinely nice guy, which is very important as often business deal points are effected by the personalities of the entities.
Rick Mayo
Alloy Personal Training Solutions
Testimonial 3
When we decided to sell, we needed an advisor who possessed a keen knowledge of the fitness industry and the intricacies of our specific niche business. MOK Advisors was the only advisor that fulfilled all of those requirements. Michael’s relationships within the financial community coupled with owning and operating large and medium sized models proved to be what was needed to get our business sold. His intellect, organizational and interpersonal skills are why I would highly recommend him over any other M&A advisory firm.
Al Tassel
Former Multi Fitness Club Operator
Testimonial 4
When I decided to sell my gyms after 37 years of ownership, I began searching for the right M&A advisor to help me get the right buyer with the best terms. MOK Advisors actually came to me as an advisor that specialized in selling gyms and the related real estate. I found him to be well connected to potential buyers and very knowledgeable on sale leasebacks. Michael put together a very professional package and we had many prospective buyers. Selling the real estate was simple and quick with Michael’s guidance and about 8 months later, we sold the businesses.
Tony Rea
Gold’s Gym
Testimonial 5
Michael O’Koomian takes the time to listen and understand the complete operations and logistics of your business. He gives professional advice and suggestions based on his own experiences. MOK Advisors recently sold my properties and operating businesses. This was a unique type a deal that needed a very experienced banker with the ability to create synergy between both buyers. Michael made it his priority to keep my financial goals and exit strategy a successful reality. MOK provided me with a methodical, strategic, and realistic solution for the sale of all my commercial properties and its operating businesses. Which they successfully executed – always having the client best interests in mind. He was able to satisfy a profitable exit strategy for my retirement.
John Grossi
Latitudes
Testimonial 5
When searching for an investment banker with industry knowledge and operational experience, we were lucky to find Michael O’Koomian at MOK Advisors, who helped is complete the sale of our Orangetheory Area Developer territory and related studios. MOK’s thoughtful approach to valuation, CIM development, and marketing enabled us to close the deal in four short months. As a previous fitness operator, Michael brings a unique perspective to investment banking in the health club world. His keen insight empowers him to connect buyers and sellers to capitalize on efficiencies and maximize value for both parties. Further, Michael’s experience yields expertise in managing franchise operations sales and acquisitions. I highly recommend the team at MOK to anyone in a franchise system seeking a growth or exit strategy.
Jay Wagnon
Orangetheory Fitness
Let’s Talk.
Selling or buying a business is complex and we’re here to advise you every step of the way. Contact us to learn how MOK Advisors can add value to the process.
Boston Area Office
160 Sylvan Street
Danvers, MA 01923
(617) 600-2788
contactus@mokadvisors.com
