Jon B. Kutler
Jon B. Kutler | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 16, 1956 |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, investor |
| Known for | Founder, chairman, and CEO of Admiralty Partners, Inc.; trustee at California Institute of Technology; chair of Jet Propulsion Laboratory Committee |
Jon B. Kutler (born October 16, 1956) holds the positions of chairman, CEO, and founder at Admiralty Partners, Inc. Additionally, he is a trustee at the California Institute of Technology and leads the Jet Propulsion Laboratory Committee as its chair.
Education
Kutler earned a Bachelor of Science degree in naval architecture from the United States Naval Academy and later obtained an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Career
An acknowledged authority in aerospace and defense sectors, Kutler spent a decade serving in the U.S. Navy before transitioning to investment banking and private equity on Wall Street in 1984. His professional journey includes significant roles in mergers and acquisitions at Goldman Sachs & Co, The First Boston Corporation, and as managing director responsible for the West Coast office and international aerospace/defense division at Wasserstein Perella & Co. In 1992, he established the Quarterdeck group of companies, notably Quarterdeck Investment Partners, Inc., a prominent M&A advisory firm specializing in global aerospace and defense markets, alongside Quarterdeck Equity Partners ("QEP"), a private equity firm.
In December 2002, Kutler divested Quarterdeck’s M&A advisory operations to NYSE-listed Jefferies LLC to concentrate exclusively on his private equity enterprise, subsequently renamed Admiralty Partners, Inc. Among Admiralty’s investments is AmSafe, recognized for manufacturing aerospace and defense safety equipment, including its signature tear drop-shaped commercial aircraft seatbelts.
Personal life
In December 2005, while skiing in Austria, Kutler was caught in an avalanche, an experience he credits with profoundly transforming his outlook on life.