Mr. Golden, NeWS Director of Advisory Services and Special Projects, has 30 years of experience as a consultant and senior executive with operating, administrative and financial responsibilities. His experience extends across a wide range of industries, including consumer products and apparel, heavy manufacturing, wholesale distribution, and retailing. He has worked extensively with European and Asian consumer product firms on a wide spectrum of complex international business transactions and cross-border issues.

Mr. Golden has negotiated several M&A transactions and advised an array of equity sponsors, buyers and sellers of distressed assets, corporate restructurings, special situation transactions and ownership transitions, In addition, he has negotiated senior and junior debt financings, provided due diligence and post-acquisition services, as well advised on ESOPs’ and has acted as a strategic, operational and financial consultant. His assignments have included:

• Multiple fashion, accessory, hosiery and international brand licensing companies,
• Retailers and catalog companies, as well as a publicly traded franchisor of specialty fast food outlets,
• A wholesale food and beverage distributor,
• Several firms engaged in electronic commerce, transaction authorizations and security,
• A publicly traded international consumer products manufacturer/trading firm based in Asia,
• A hotel operator/owner located in Thailand,
• ESOP feasibility studies for consumer product importers.

Mr. Golden’s advisory work has included:

• Interim Chief Operating & Financial Officer for Impulse Wear, Inc. a licensee of casual apparel, work wear and accessories, where he orchestrated the sale of the assets of the company.
• Advisor to an importer of licensed and generic home furnishings
• Consultant to a multi-location operator of convenience stores,
• Strategic advisor to an operator of food and restaurant franchises,
• Strategic Advisor to a multi-location retailer of kitchens, baths, imported tile and marble,
• Advisor for a wholesaler of costume jewelry,
• Consultant to a distributor of beauty supplies,
• Advisor to a spa travel and marketing company with publishing, travel, internet, and corporate incentives.

As interim CFO of Jayark Corp., a publicly traded importer of consumer products, he coordinated the acquisition and financing of Jayark’s $100 million international consumer products trading subsidiary.

Mr. Golden also has extensive experience in performing due diligence and post-closing integration activities for business acquirers, including:

• For SBH Intimates, including various license transfers and assignments in connection with its acquisition of High Point Knitting,
• For Fashion Accessory Bazaar, a rapidly growing school supply and accessory firm, in connection with its acquisition of Pyramid Accessories (a company represented by NeWS).

Prior to starting his advisory practice in the mid-1990s, Mr. Golden served as Chief Administrative, Operations & Financial Officer for Hugo Boss USA, Inc., and was instrumental in transforming a $22 million loss in 1991 to a $10 million profit in 1993. Earlier, he was Senior Vice President of Administration & Finance CFO for Koffman Enterprises, a diversified holding company with a portfolio of operating companies (both publicly traded and privately held) with combined annual revenues in excess of $1 billion. He simultaneously served as CFO of an operating unit, Apparel America, a publicly traded manufacturer of woman's swimwear and licensed specialty sportswear.

Mr. Golden is a Certified Public Accountant and a graduate of Bernard M. Baruch College of CUNY. He lives on Long Island with his wife and three daughters.