Our Team

Bill Billeaud
CEO and Managing Partner
Bill is a seasoned investment banker, senior executive, management consultant, and investor with nearly forty years of experience helping U.S. and international organizations grow, transform, and execute strategic transactions. Known for his range, global mindset, and deal-making instincts, Bill drives immediate impact and results for clients across technology, consulting, and the middle market.
Transaction Leadership
Bill has originated and closed numerous high-profile technology and digital services transactions, including:
- Atos → Acquisition of Visual BI (Plano, TX)
A complex carve-out spanning multiple technology verticals, functional areas, deliverables, and geographies—completed with France-based Atos, a $13B global IT and digital transformation leader.
News: https://atos.net/en/2021/press-release_2021_07_27/acquisition-visual-bi - 66Degrees + Pandera Systems → Strategic Merger
A private-equity backed merger creating the second-largest Google Cloud Platform partner in the ecosystem.
News: https://sunstonepartners.com/news/2022/10/google-ecosystem-leaders-66degrees-and-pandera-systems-join-forces-with-additional-growth-equity-investment-from-sunstone-partners/
Technology & Innovation Leadership
Bill’s career spans the intersection of technology, strategy, and finance. He has held senior leadership and entrepreneurial roles in:
- IT services, cloud, and enterprise technologies
- Wireless internet, mobility, and SaaS platforms (including IP creation)
- Big data, predictive analytics, machine learning and AI
- Technology-focused investment banking
He is a frequent speaker and published author on M&A, international business, and technology trends, and served as President of the University of Illinois Political Science Alumni Board.
Global & Cross-Border Expertise
Bill brings a lifetime of cross-border operating and deal-making experience. He has advised Fortune-level multinationals, private equity portfolio companies, and middle-market and entrepreneurial firms. His background includes:
- Leading and expanding the Pepsi de México agribusiness joint venture during the formation of NAFTA
- Driving global expansion initiatives for consulting, retail, and BPO organizations
- Managing operational growth for private equity portfolio companies in the U.S. and internationally
He conducts business across North America, CALA, EMEA, and APAC, and is fluent in Spanish with functional proficiency in Italian, French, and Portuguese.
Education & Credentials
- Global MBA — Saint Louis University (Chaifetz School of Business)
- B.A. — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Executive Certificate in M&A — Columbia Business School
- Specializations in Executive Data Science, Digital Marketing, and Global Strategy (Johns Hopkins, UIUC, Thunderbird)
- Licensed since 1986 in real estate, insurance, and FINRA Series 7, 63, and 79 (inactive)
Personal Background
Bill’s parents were from New Orleans; he grew up in the St. Louis area, was educated in the Midwest and the East Coast, and has called Texas home for more than 3 decades. A former All-State winger and Division 1, Big Ten Conference soccer player and Captain, he trains most days, is an avid sports fan, a voracious reader, and a proud father of two beautiful daughters.
Bill can be reached at
bill@lombardglobal.com or via LinkedIn at:
linkedin.com/in/williambilleaud

Baruch Esparza
Managing Director
Baruch Esparza is an accomplished M&A executive with a highly impressive track record of closing deals internationally. He has extensive buy-side and sell-side experience, with expertise throughout the M&A process, including due diligence, financial modeling, contract negotiations and business integration.
Baruch has lived and worked in CALA, EMEA, North America, and has done work in APAC. His family owns a successful small business in Mexico, giving him a big advantage when working with other founders and operators.
Some examples of Baruch’s closed transactions include:
- Recently, he facilitated and closed a sell-side transaction between Performance, LLC and The Adherex Group, a shared investment between private equity firms Akoya Capital and Goldner Hawn.
- He sourced and closed Iron Mountain expansion in Brazil through the acquisition of Keepers in 2014. As such, he was involved in all the phases of the transaction including sourcing, contract negotiations, board documentation and operational integration. He worked on M&A for Iron Mountain in other countries as well, including Colombia and The Philippines.
Baruch’s total investment transaction volume is over $5 billion USD.
Baruch holds an MBA from the Cox School of Business at SMU in Dallas and a B.S in Chemical Engineering from Tecnologico de Monterrey, in Monterrey, Mexico. He played American football his entire life and has competed at the highest levels.
Baruch lives with his family in the Dallas area.
Our Junior Team & Global Internship Program
At Lombard Global, Inc., we are proud to field one of the strongest junior teams in the tech-focused investment banking industry. Our analysts, associates, and interns represent the best and brightest from top-ranked universities around the world, combining deep technical skill with the professionalism and drive our clients expect.
We maintain an active bench of 20 high-performing interns from elite schools globally. They support the full deal lifecycle, including:
- Strategic research and market intelligence
- Client due-diligence and financial analysis
- Business development and pipeline expansion
- Transaction support and deal execution
- Financial statement review and creation
Our internship alumni have gone on to leading roles at top investment banks, Big Four firms, global technology strategics, and Ivy League law schools—a testament to their exceptional talent and the strength of our program.
This world-class junior bench gives Lombard Global a meaningful competitive advantage, allowing us to deliver unmatched execution capability, responsiveness, and analytical depth for our clients and partners

Chen Huang Lin
Associate
Chen Lin is an Associate at Lombard Global, where he supports M&A transactions,
valuation analyses, market research, and client engagement across multiple industries. He plays an active role in financial modeling and strategic analysis to help clients identify growth opportunities and execute transformative deals.
Before joining Lombard Global, Chen served as a Private Equity Research Analyst Intern at Romero Capital in New York City, where he conducted company and industry due diligence, built valuation models, and developed sector reports covering consumer, technology, education, and healthcare companies. His analytical rigor and cross-sector exposure strengthened his ability to translate data into actionable investment insights.
Chen earned a Bachelor of Science in Financial Economics from Binghamton University, where he consistently made the Dean’s List and competed in numerous case competitions spanning corporate strategy and equity research. He also holds the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) license and has completed advanced financial
modeling training, with proficiency in Excel tools such as VLOOKUP, pivot tables, and
scenario analysis.
Originally from China and raised on Long Island, New York, Chen combines a global
perspective with an entrepreneurial mindset. Outside of finance, he is passionate about health and fitness, runs a K-beauty skincare side venture, enjoys tutoring younger students, and has a deep interest in cooking and continuous learning.

Mihir Amte
Lead Intern Analyst
Mihir Amte is Lead Intern Analyst at Lombard Global, where he supports M&A advisory for SaaS and tech-enabled companies. He assists with buyer outreach, market research, due diligence, and the preparation of client-facing materials to support active mandates and strategic initiatives. His analytical approach and strong communication skills help clients better understand industry trends and competitive positioning.
Before joining Lombard Global, Mihir worked in business development at Premium Merchant Funding in New York, where he closed multiple funding deals and conducted credit assessments for small business clients. He also gained consulting experience at KatBotz LLC, where he improved financial reporting processes, utilized SAP S/4HANA and Fiori apps, and built data dashboards in Power BI. Earlier, at Bot Nirvana, he developed AI strategy playbooks and executive summaries focused on workflow automation and enterprise productivity.
Mihir is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Finance at the University of Texas at Dallas and has completed coursework in financial modeling, investment management, accounting, and corporate finance. He also holds certifications including Adventis Financial Modeling, the Private Equity Certificate (Wharton & Wall Street Prep), Bloomberg Market Concepts, and Microsoft Excel Associate.
Originally from the Bay Area, Toronto, and Houston, Mihir brings a diverse background and competitive mindset to his work. A former nationally ranked junior tennis player, he reached top 100 in the United States, top 15 in Texas, and held an ITF junior ranking. Outside of finance, he stays active through weightlifting and enjoys following the NBA.
Senior Advisors

Denice Sakakeeny
Senior Advisor
Based in Boston, she brings over 20 years of hands-on corporate finance experience, focusing on SaaS, green tech, food & beverage manufacturing, and professional services. She possesses a demonstrated history of M&A, strategy development, capital raise, winddowns, asset sales, and turnarounds that maximize shareholder value.
A technology CFO by trade, Denice is a trusted advisor to entrepreneurs and senior executives. She leverages people, processes, technology, and good common sense in addressing complex business challenges and facilitating growth.
Her more notable engagements include Management Director and CFO of Infinium, a clean-tech start-up spun out of MIT, where she managed daily operations after an investor takeover. As CFO of a cloud backup company, she managed the asset sale of a distressed US start-up to an Indian held public company worth billions of USD in market cap and with over 100 vendors by tapping escrowed funds. Denice also represented a US company in the ad tech space as its CFO, while acquiring its foreign parent company by a German public company with $USD billions in market cap. Additionally, Denice was the founding CFO of a US-based firm that quietly acquired and consolidated companies in the digital marketing space.
In the fifteen years before launching her consulting business in 2011, Denice was CFO to a handful of VC-backed SaaS Companies in Boston, where she sourced and closed several financing rounds, from seed to Series C.
Beyond her client work, Denice is passionate about sharing her knowledge and insights through speaking engagements, customized training programs, and mentoring others in their corporate finance career. She is honored to contribute to the education curriculum for the Breakthrough Energy Fellows, the climate action fund founded by Bill Gates, where she delivers workshops on "Deal Hygiene" and "Planning for Growth."
Denice obtained her BA in African and African-American Studies and Sociology from Brandies University and holds a MS in Accounting from Suffolk University.

Ryan Hall
Senior Advisor
Ryan Hall is a seasoned technology Chief Revenue Officer, operational executive and investor with over two decades of experience driving transformative growth in high-tech environments. His unique combination of operational leadership and revenue growth expertise makes him an invaluable advisor for M&A transactions and strategic initiatives in the dynamic technology sector.
Ryan has consistently delivered exceptional results across various roles, including:
- Executive Leadership: Leading transformative business growth at industry giants like IBM, Avaya, and Verint, where he consistently exceeded revenue targets.
- Fractional CRO: Providing strategic sales leadership to early-stage B2B SaaS companies, helping them accelerate growth and expand market presence.
- Innovation Leader: Pioneering AI and automation in sales processes to develop cutting-edge revenue strategies that give tech companies a competitive edge.
- Angel Investor: Successfully investing in SaaS companies that have achieved profitable exits, giving Ryan hands-on experience with the full lifecycle of tech companies, from early growth to successful M&A transactions.
Ryan’s expertise spans go-to-market strategy, performance turnarounds, and revenue optimization—key skills for middle-market technology firms and private equity portfolios. His strategic insights help navigate complex market dynamics and uncover high-potential opportunities.
Career Highlights:
- Generated over $1 billion in revenue impact
- Multiple successful exits as an angel investor
- Achieved consistent year-over-year growth in executive roles
Ryan holds a B.S. in Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology, blending technical knowledge with business strategy. He is recognized as a thought leader in applying AI to sales and revenue processes and remains at the forefront of leveraging emerging technologies for business growth.
Based in Milton, Georgia, Ryan is actively involved in his community and enjoys equestrian activities throughout the Southeast.
