STEPHEN F. COOPER
Stephen F. CooperCo-founder and former chairman of Zolfo Cooper, Steve Cooper continues to provide strategic advice on select restructuring matters.
With more than 30 years of experience as a financial advisor, Steve is a sought-after interim executive and advisor to companies facing operational and performance issues. He recently served as the CEO of Hawaiian Telcom and provided management services to American Home Mortgage. Other recent engagements include serving as executive chairman of Blue Bird, a leading bus manufacturer, and chairman of the board of auto supplier Collins & Aikman. In 2005 Steve was CEO of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts; from 2002-2005 he served as CEO and CRO of Enron.
A turnaround industry pioneer, Steve has worked on both the creditor and company sides of distressed situations. Through managing more than 300 engagements, Steve has earned an international reputation as a creative problem-solver who can craft constructive business solutions out of complex, contentious situations. His track record includes prominent engagements such as Laidlaw, Washington Group, Morrison Knudsen, Federated Department Stores and numerous others.
Previously, Steve was a financial consulting partner of Touche Ross (now Deloitte & Touche), where he was also a founding partner of that firm's reorganization advisory services group.
He holds a B.A. from Occidental College and an M.B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. Steve is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants, the Institute of Management Accountants, the Turnaround Management Association and the Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Advisors. He has also been named a fellow of the American Bankruptcy Institute and is a founding member of the International Insolvency Institute. In addition, Steve is a frequent speaker and author on the subjects of leadership and financially troubled companies.