Ron Richards

Ron is a seasoned business consultant, possessing a broad range of expertise in financial and market strategies for both public and private companies, with a particular emphasis on workouts/turnarounds. His background as a lawyer and CPA position him to be uniquely effective in assisting clients in their efforts to understand and analyze complex operational, financial, legal, and accounting issues. Ron advises clients on the execution of specific transactions as well as the implementation of broader strategic business initiatives. He is a proven leader, leveraging extensive senior management and board experience and over 20 years working with public and private companies in the areas of consulting, investment banking, law and accounting.

Previously, Ron served as Managing Director of Viking Asset Management, LLC, the investment advisor to the Longview Funds. His responsibilities included sourcing, conducting due diligence and structuring potential investment opportunities for the fund and working with portfolio companies to enhance their value.

Prior to Viking Asset Management, Ron served as CFO at Biopure Corporation, a Boston-based publicly held biotechnology firm. He raised over $55 million to capitalize the organization while implementing cost reductions and expanding business development efforts. Prior to Biopure, Ron worked with Shoreline Pacific as Managing Director and President, where he orchestrated the firm’s strategic shift to a life-science focused investment bank.

Ron also served as the Managing Director of Corporate Finance at Wells Fargo Van Kasper. He planned and executed numerous public equity offerings, merger & acquisition transactions, and other financial advisory assignments. He directed financial modeling and valuation analysis, due diligence, and industry research. Ron also formed a structured finance group focused on PIPEs and identified, structured, and executed numerous PIPE transactions as the firm’s expert in this area.  He is the co-author of PIPES: The CEO’s Guide to Successful Private Investments in Public Equities. His broad expertise also includes the legal and accounting arena.  He practiced corporate and labor law at Seyfarth Shaw Fairweather & Geraldson and was an accountant with Deloitte & Touche.

Ron holds a J.D. from the UCLA School of Law and an M.B.A. from the Anderson School at UCLA, where he was a two-time winner of the prestigious Price Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies Fellowship.  He also received his B.A. in Economics/Business from UCLA, graduating magna cum laude, and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.  He is a member of the State Bar of California and a retired Certified Public Accountant.