Al
Koch
Vice Chairman and Managing Director
Albert A. Koch, a Vice Chairman and Managing Director with AlixPartners
as well as with Questor, lends an experienced hand to Questor’s
acquisition and turnaround work. Al previously served as Managing
Principal of AlixPartners. Under his leadership, the firm quadrupled
revenues, tripled its staff of corporate turnaround and litigation
consulting professionals, and opened two new offices.
Al is currently the Chairman, President and CEO of Polar Corporation, a Questor portfolio company. Headquartered in St. Cloud, Minnesota the company operates three distinct, yet complementary operating divisions: Quality Trailer Products, Polar Tank Trailer and Polar Service Centers, with total revenue of about $300 million.
Prior to Polar, Al was the Chairman, interim President and CEO at Champion Enterprises Inc., the world’s largest builder of manufactured homes from June 30, 2003 until July 31, 2004. After joining Champion, Al led a major financial and operational restructuring which saw the company’s market capitalization nearly triple while operating results improved from a year-to-date loss of $18 million in 2003 to a profit of $9 million for the first six months of 2004. And, the company’s net debt (long-term debt minus cash) improved from $198 million in 2003 to $100 million at the end of the second quarter.
Previously, he served as interim CFO of the Kmart Corporation, the largest retailer in history to file for bankruptcy. In this position, he provided leadership and credibility to the financial functions, led the development of a multi-year operating business plan and drove financial performance in conformity with the plan. Kmart emerged from Chapter 11 in May 2003. About a year after emerging from bankruptcy, Kmart acquired Sears in a $12 billion acquisition and subsequently changed its name to Sears Holdings Corp. Retailer Merchandiser recognized Al and the Kmart executive team as the "Retail Executive of the Year" for their work on the Kmart restructuring.
Al was formerly a partner with Ernst & Young for 14 years,
including seven years as Managing Partner of the firm’s
Detroit office. He is a CPA and won the Sells Gold Medal for attaining
the highest scores in the United States in that exam. Al holds
a Bachelor’s degree in accounting from Elizabethtown College,
Elizabethtown, PA. He is a member of the AICPA and MACPA.
Current Board
Positions
Polar Corporation
Tecumseh Products Company
Current Portfolio Companies
Polar Corporation
Former Portfolio Companies
Ryder TRS
Industry Knowledge
Automotive
Casualty Insurance
Healthcare
Health Maintenance Organizations
Life Insurance
Manufactured Housing
Retail
Truck Rental/Leasing
News
“Polar Corp.”
Al Koch tells Dave Gehman how efficiency gains following a recent acquisition have been matched by a rise in employee morale.
By Dave Gehman, American Executive, May 2005
“Team Grit"
This year, RM honors the Kmart executive team with its sixth annual Retail Executive of the Year award.
By Debby Garbato, Retail Merchandiser, February 1, 2005
"AlixPartners' Koch Helped Champion"
By Jonathan Berke, Daily Deal/The Deal, August 4, 2004
“Champion
Boosted by Better Loan Outlook”
By John Gallagher
Detroit Free Press, February 11, 2004
“Turnaround
Expert Predicts Rebound for Champion Homes”
Manufactured Housing Firm Looks for 2004 Profit
By Karen Dybis, The Detroit News, February 11, 2004
"Kmart Rings Up $200 Million Profit"
Stock soars as embattled retailer reports upswing for November,
December, its first since 2000.
By Karen Dybis, The Detroit News, January 6, 2004
"Champion Sees Better Days Ahead
New CEO Al Koch Battles to Cut Loses at Home-Building Firm"
By Karen Dybis, The Detroit News, July 16, 2003
“Koch Describes His Turnaround Trials”
By Gary Haber, Detroit Free Press, July 16, 2003
"U.S. Kmart Completes Restructuring Ahead of Schedule
Three Turnaround Specialists Demonstrate Their Expertise"
By Yoichi Shinohara, Nihon Keizai Newspaper, May 12, 2003
“When The Going Gets Tough, AlixPartners Gets Busy”
By Joann Muller, Business Week, September 23, 2002
“Leading a Turnaround Can Make Your Career, If You’re
Up to the Task”
By Hal Lancaster, Wall Street Journal, March 2, 1999
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