GenNx360 Capital Partners has added Latasha Akoma to its team as a new Operating Partner. Ms. Akoma will focus on driving performance, operational efficiencies and profitability across the GenNx portfolio companies in addition to working with its deal team to identify and evaluate new opportunities. She will report to Lloyd Trotter, Founding and Managing Partner.
“Latasha is an extremely talented leader who has extensive experience in running and growing industrial manufacturing companies. Her skill set and extensive manufacturing experience bring immediate value to our investments as we grow those businesses in their targeted industries,” said Mr. Trotter. “We look forward to leveraging her expertise in a range of opportunities as we build strong and profitable businesses.”
Ms. Akoma has over 19 years of managerial experience leading safety, quality, cost and customer service improvements, and is certified in applying Lean Six Sigma applications in production settings. Most recently, Ms. Akoma held several management posts at Harley-Davidson Motor Company. She joined Harley-Davidson as Director of Manufacturing Operations in 2009, with responsibility for a 425,000 sq. ft. facility which included five production areas and a 120,000 sq. ft. Material Velocity Center. She advanced to the position of General Manager in 2011 where she was responsible for two facilities encompassing 192,000 sq. ft. over 96 acres. Prior to joining Harley-Davidson, Ms. Akoma was Senior Manager of Paint Operations at Chrysler where she held a variety of senior leadership positions in operations and general management. Ms. Akoma holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Energy & Robotics from Howard University and an MS in Engineering Management from the University of Michigan.
“As I considered the next stage of my career, private equity was of keen interest. GenNx stood out among its peers for its unique strategy and its focus on industrial manufacturing and business services, integrating operations and financial executives throughout its investment process, from sourcing to value creation to exit.” said Ms. Akoma. “I am excited to join the team and leverage my experience in acquiring and growing industrial and business services companies.”
GenNx360 Capital Partners is a private equity firm focused on investing in industrial business-to-business companies in the middle market. Sectors of interest include industrial machinery and components, oil and gas, transportation and logistics, agricultural, specialty chemicals, and aerospace. GenNx360 was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in New York with additional offices in Seattle and Boston (www.gennx360.com).
© 2014 PEPD • Private Equity’s Leading News Magazine • 2-19-14
