Garrett Lane Advisors Garrett Lane Advisors

Track record

Results I was accountable for, not ones I observed.

Advisory and coaching engagements are confidential and are not described here; named references are available privately, with the client's consent, to organisations in live discussion. What follows is from the operating seat.

Chicago · 333 West WackerChicago · 333 West Wacker
Wealth & investment management

A US wealth & investment management firmPartner, COO & CFO · 2014–present

Situation
A $675M asset business with ailing operations and management information too thin to run it on.
Work
Restructured for growth around people and process, built a more capable and structured team, and championed a $1M investment to digitise the business end to end — asset management through to fee generation.
Result
Assets grew to $4.25B and revenue from $10.9M to $32.7M, with profitability up 12.8× and EBITDA compounding at 27.4% a year across the five years from 2021.
Commercial real estate

A private equity & commercial real estate businessManaging Principal · 2012–present

Situation
A shopping mall bought for its $16M debt, losing $300K a year and serving a demographic it had never been designed for.
Work
Repositioned the centre for the Hispanic and Disney tourist communities on a $7M investment, including a new 'Marketplace' format that converted casual traders into permanent tenants.
Result
Foot traffic from 400K to 1.7M a year, occupancy from 40% to 100%, and losses reversed to over $7.0M revenue and $3.8M NOI.
Wealth management

A Canadian wealth management groupPresident & CEO, COO, Board Member · 1995–2000

Situation
A wealth management business inside an industry consolidating the independent financial advisory channel in Canada.
Work
Full P&L accountability for the operating company, and chief operating officer of the advisory arm through the consolidation, with a seat on the parent board.
Result
Net operating profit up 11.5× over four years on 40% top-line growth, and the firm twice named one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Private Companies.
Professional services

An international law firmChief Operating Officer · 2003–2006

Situation
A 750-partner international law firm carrying an unintegrated merger and no C-suite.
Work
Built the firm's first C-suite team, delivered the post-merger operational integration, established domestic and international offices, and put in a practice- and industry-focused marketing and branding structure.
Result
Revenue up 36% and profit up 40% under full P&L accountability.
Restructuring

A real estate development groupEVP & Chief Operating Officer · 1989–1995

Situation
A real estate development group carrying over $850M of debt into a court-supervised restructuring.
Work
Lead Restructuring Officer through the CCAA process, alongside 23 property dispositions, 14 acquisitions, 12 retail developments, 10 expansions and 10 residential and mixed-use projects.
Result
Occupancy lifted from 93% to 97.7% with average rental rates held through the restructuring.
Mining & resources

An exploration & mining groupChief Financial Officer · 2008–2012

Situation
An exploration and mining portfolio in the Democratic Republic of Congo needing capital and a route into production.
Work
Raised US$80M in equity and $19M in debt across 23 exploration and mining properties.
Result
One site taken through to initial production.
— In their words

What clients say

Bill puts the hard question on the table and has the judgment to know when it belongs there. He comes prepared, takes on the work most people avoid, and finishes it. I’d want him in the boardroom for any issue with real money or real risk attached.

Marin Aubuchon · Chair
Aubuchon Realty Corporation

Bill is the kind of advisor every CEO should want in their corner. He combines deep financial and operating expertise with something that is much harder to find: sound judgment and complete candor.

He has a remarkable ability to quickly understand complex situations, cut through the noise, and focus on what actually matters. He is direct without being abrasive, practical without being short-sighted, and, most importantly, willing to tell you what you need to hear rather than what you want to hear.

What I value most is his integrity. Bill approaches every situation objectively and is willing to challenge assumptions, ask difficult questions, and stand behind what he believes is right. I continue to seek his counsel today.

Samuel Mtunga · Chief Executive Officer
XFD Corporation

I have had the pleasure of working with Bill Best for almost a decade. If you have the opportunity to have Bill in your corner as an advisor or board member: take it! His strategic insight, extensive experience, deep trustworthiness and genuine care are transformational.

Grant Henzel · Founder & CEO
Entrepreneurial Capital and NPM LLC

Working with Bill has been incredibly valuable to me as a business owner and CEO. He brings a depth of business experience and a true understanding of how all parts of an organization work together — from strategy and operations to leadership, finance, and growth.

Bill has helped me clarify where I want to take the business, build the framework to get there, and stay focused on execution. His perspective is consistently sharp and practical, and I rely on him when I’m working through complicated decisions or challenges. He has a remarkable ability to quickly see what matters most and help me find a clear path forward.

What I appreciate just as much is how he works. Bill is no-nonsense, approachable, and direct, while bringing a tremendous amount of heart to the relationship. He understands both the business and the person leading it. I’m a stronger leader — and my company is stronger — because of his input.

Anna Loibner Davidson · Founder & CEO
Blackberry Market

References on request.

If we get to a serious conversation, I will introduce you to people who have worked with me — with their permission, and in their own words.

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