Schwartz Advisors (SA), an M&A advisory and growth planning firm, has announced the expansion of its organization, bringing a new level of M&A service to middle market automotive aftermarket companies and investors.

The company’s new structure is built around nine managing partners and partners, bringing a wealth of experience in the automotive aftermarket and heavy-duty transportation industries, as well as M&A transactions.

The SA team includes:

Mort Schwartz – founding partner – A well-known leader in the automotive aftermarket, Schwartz led aftermarket companies including Strauss Discount Auto and Import Parts of America. He is past chairman of APAA, AWDA and CAWA and founder of the Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium.

Richard Schwartz – managing partner – Before co-founding SA, Schwartz was chief operating officer for IDEA Health & Fitness Inc., and held senior management positions at Nestlé USA and Macy’s. He is a director of the Auto Care Association.

Pete Kornafel – managing partner – Kornafel was vice chairman of CARQUEST Corp. and a director of General Parts International Inc., after more than 25 years as owner of CARQUEST member Hatch Grinding.

Curtis Draper – managing partner – With experience in the aerospace and industrial sectors, Draper has been in the aftermarket for more than a dozen years, most recently as vice president of AASA. Prior to that, he was vice president of sales and marketing at UCI International, then vice president of strategic marketing at UCI-FRAM Group.

Derek Kaufman – managing partner – Kaufman is a 35-year auto industry executive, holding key positions in the Penske Corp. organization, including Diesel Technology Co. and Hino Trucks USA.  He was also vice president of marketing and product planning for Freightliner Trucks.

Keith Zar – managing partner – Zar has been doing M&A transactions for more than 25 years, in private legal practice, as general counsel of two public companies in the high-tech electronics sector and in the aftermarket.  For the past 10 years, he was vice president and general counsel of UCI International and then UCI-FRAM Group.

Malcolm Davidow – partner – Formerly vice president, digital operations at Pep Boys; president of eAuto.com; and director, automotive at amazon.com.

Rick Guirlinger  – partner – Former controller, treasurer, vice president and chief financial officer with Parts Warehouse Co. and with General Parts International Inc.

Steve Ganster  – Partner – Managing director of Technomic Asia, based in Shanghai, and author of “The China Ready Company.”

“The new SA now brings a unique perspective to M&A and growth planning,” said Rick Schwartz, CEO. “Our team combines experience as business owners and operators along with transactional experience of buying, selling and investing in businesses. We know how value is generated and can support our clients with expertise and industry connections built through years of work in the aftermarket.”