M. Tatum ("Tate") Pursell

Managing Director

Tate Pursell is a Managing Director at NHB Advisors, Inc. and has over 30 years of experience as a senior operating executive and private equity principal.  His areas of expertise include turning around under performing businesses and operating industrial and consumer products manufacturing companies and specialty retail firms, as well as acquisition valuation, negotiation, due diligence, and integration.  As a corporate executive, he has conducted business in European, Latin American, and Asian countries, and managed acquisitions, restructurings and industry roll-ups.

Since joining NHB, Tate has conducted successful assignments in consumer products, specialty distribution, retail, industrial products and equipment, chemical, and electronic security systems industries.  He has acted in advisory, interim CEO, and Chief Restructuring Officer capacities.

Before NHB, he was Managing Partner of Unlimited Horizons, which provides consulting services and seeks investments in manufacturing companies for private equity firms, including buyouts, acquisitions, restructurings, and operational improvements.  As Interim CEO of a specialty manufacturer of installed building products, he reinvigorated sales, reduced manufacturing costs, and succeeded in refinancing the company. For a consumer home products manufacturer, he completed a major operational improvement project which reduced costs and streamlined administrative processes. 

Previously, Mr. Pursell was Group President of the Engineered Plastics Group of Applied Tech Products, a Saunders Karp & Megrue portfolio company, where he oversaw four operating companies, and was Group Executive and Senior Managing Director of Cortec Group, a private equity investment firm, where he oversaw four manufacturing companies and conducted M&A, valuation, and acquisition engagements.

Mr. Pursell also served as CEO of three operating companies of Masco Corporation:  Baldwin Hardware Corporation, American Metal Products, and the Baldwin Home Accent Stores.  Previously, at Forstmann-Little, he was General Manager of the Electripak Division of American Electric, and at GE he was manager of a $300 million line of lighting products.  His early experience includes product management positions at American Cyanamid, Warner-Lambert, and Unilever.

Mr. Pursell earned a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelors Degree in biochemistry from Washington University in St. Louis.  He served as a Captain and Management Analysis Officer in the U.S. Air Force in Europe and Southeast Asia.  He attained fluency in German and Spanish, and holds the following certifications:  Six Sigma Certification, Lean Manufacturing (Masco Corporation), TQM Expert qualification (Thomas & Betts), Quality Champion (General Electric) and the NYSE/ISS Certificate of Board Member Education.  

He is a director of the Barton Group, a materials and manufacturing company, and chairs their compensation committee.  In addition, he is a director of Halex Corporation and is a past member of the boards of the International Executive Resources Group (IERG), Unique Home Designs, and the Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association.  He is a member of the Turnaround Management Association, the Association for Corporate Growth, and the National Association of Corporate Directors.