Ian Sylvan Bio

Ian Sylvan is a Managing Director in CLA’s M&A advisory and investment banking practice. He brings with him more than 30 years of M&A advisory, investment banking, financing and related transaction experience. Ian joined CLA in 2021 to provide additional senior-level resources to the firm’s investment banking and M&A advisory practice related primarily to business owners and management teams who are looking to transition ownership of their business. Ian has been involved in numerous transactions across industries and varying business cycles. His primary focus is working with privately-held and financial sponsor-owned companies to assist them in determining and executing the appropriate transaction solution to meet their objectives. This has included the completion of many transactions including outright sales, recapitalizations, acquisitions and capital raising. Prior to joining CLA, Ian was a Managing Director with Fifth Third Securities in the Investment Banking Group and was a Managing Director and Head of the M&A Advisory Group at MB Financial Bank prior to its acquisition by Fifth Third. Before that, he was a Managing Director in the M&A Advisory Group at BMO Capital Markets and Banc One Capital Markets (thru its predecessor company American National Bank of Chicago where he began his career). Ian believes that successful transactions are completed through thoughtful execution, hard work and a thorough understanding of a client’s objectives and in-depth review and discussion regarding valuation, market conditions, company-specific factors, personal factors and industry-specific issues to help determine the appropriate path to meet those goals.