Christopher Stradling
Managing Director
Chicago Mergers & Acquisitions Consumer cstradling@lincolninternational.com +1 (312) 580-8325My passion is positioning high-quality businesses for maximum valuation. I thoroughly enjoy partnering with business owners to reach their goals through life-changing transactions.
As co-head of Lincoln’s consumer group, Chris leads the firm’s consumer product initiatives and advises companies on mergers and acquisitions. Through a hands-on style of processing deals, Chris develops close relationships with owners and management to learn the priorities of all stakeholders and position companies for maximum valuation.
Chris has deep knowledge of the key dynamics, such as ecommerce and direct-to-consumer marketing, that drive the consumer industry. He brings significant experience leading transactions in the active lifestyle, ecommerce, functional apparel, food and beverage, home furnishings and merchandizing sectors. Chris and his teams lead processes that yield outlier valuations through identifying and positioning his clients’ unique points of differentiation.
Chris brings practical life experience having spent his pre-college years deeply involved in running his family’s business, as well as post-educational stints working in operations and corporate development in a Fortune 500 company and auditing large companies at a major global accounting firm.
Chris holds a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Science from Northern Arizona University.
Perspectives featuring Christopher Stradling
How Consumer Products & Services Companies Are Viewing M&A Outlook for 2023
In today’s dealmaking environment, uncertainty and caution reign supreme. Consumer confidence has seen declines as high inflation and recession fears dominate. At the same time, investors continue to look for… Read More
How Excess Inventories are Impacting Furnishings Businesses
The macro-level supply challenges initially spurred by the COVID-19 crisis have largely subsided while their lingering effects have continued to weigh on many consumer products companies. The pandemic period saw… Read More
Global Supply Chain Volatility: 2022 Outlook
Amidst historic production disruption, shortages and low levels of inventory, manufacturers, distributors and retailers have been adapting business strategy real-time in response to continued volatility. There has been a rising… Read More
How the Asian Supply Chain is Impacting U.S. Businesses, and What That Means for M&A Activity
The COVID-19 crisis highlighted the fragility of supply chains in what has become a highly globalized and complex trade market. It exposed companies’ inability to adjust to demand and multi-faceted… Read More
News & Media featuring Christopher Stradling
Lincoln International Adds Tosh Dhanalal as Managing Director
Lincoln International, a leading global investment banking advisory firm, is pleased to announce the addition of Tosh Dhanalal as a Managing Director in the firm’s Consumer Group in Los Angeles.… Read More
Mergers & Acquisitions Excerpt | What’s ahead for M&A in 2020? We ask 8 advisors
Originally published by Mergers & Acquisitions on December 27, 2019 | Excerpt from interviews with eight bankers and other advisors for their outlook on M&A in 2020 What’s ahead for… Read More
Pitchbook | Q&A: Identifying the Non-Cyclical Sectors Most Resistant to a Potential Recession
Original post from Pitchbook on December 5, 2019 here. … Read More
Mergers & Acquisitions Magazine | Q&A Excerpt: Chris Stradling Shares Outlook
Originally published by Mergers & Acquisitions on May 28, 2019 | Excerpt from interviews with eight M&A advisors serving the mid-market Buyers should specialize, recommends Christopher Stradling, Lincoln International What… Read More
Meet our Senior Team in Consumer
I have a hands-on approach and bring energy, creativity and passion to every client transaction.
Eddie Krule
Managing Director
Chicago
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