ASHEVILLE — After 15 years as co-founder and Managing Partner at Kaplan CFO Solutions, Ken Kaplan is passing the torch. Effective July 1, 2023, Kaplan CFO Equity Partner Mark Majewski will assume day-to-day leadership of the firm. 

Kaplan and co-founder, Vaughn Fisher, started the company in July 2008 to provide experienced on-site CFO services to local fast-growing businesses who are not yet ready for a full-time CFO. Under Kaplan’s leadership, the firm—one of the first on-site fractional CFO companies in the country—has grown to include seventeen veteran CFOs serving clients on-site across Western North Carolina, Eastern Tennessee, and the Upstate of South Carolina, and remotely throughout the U.S.  

"When we began the business, we thought the firm could grow to five CFOs and that would serve the needs of this market. We never dreamed that the market could support 17 CFOs and is still growing. This model has certainly become mainstream; our CFOs deserve the outstanding reputation they have earned," Kaplan said.  

This past year, Kaplan CFO was honored with a Sky High Growth Award by the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce and named a Top 10 CFO Service Provider by Financial Services Review Magazine. Current and former clients have often appeared on Inc. Magazine’s list of fastest growing companies. 

Majewski joined the firm in 2019 and became an equity partner in 2021. His career has spanned three decades, and his C-level experience goes well beyond the duties of a CFO. Prior to joining Kaplan CFO, he worked primarily in the food industry, where held leadership positions in general management, sales and marketing, finance, and supply chain. Known as a turn-around specialist, Majewski successfully guided mature but stagnant companies—such as Liguria Foods and Mizkan Americas, Inc.—back to profitability.

Since joining Kaplan CFO, Majewski’s clients have included MC Communications (Asheville, NC), Pure Country Weavers (Lynn, NC), Robertson Marketing Group (Salem, VA) and Sugar Hollow Solar (Asheville, NC). In addition, he has developed exit strategies for his clients resulting in significant gains for the business owners. 

“I strongly believe in what we are doing,” Majewski said. “We’re able to share our experience and expertise with companies who need it the most. In return, we get to work with gifted entrepreneurs, learning their business and working together to help them realize their vision," he explained.

The firm’s success is due in large part to the experience and philosophy of its CFO Partners who average 25 years of C-suite experience in some extremely challenging environments. In addition, most CFO Partners have also owned or operated their own businesses. “At this point in their careers, our CFOs are looking to leverage their corporate experience, helping others build success and mentoring along the way,” Majewski said. 

Majewski will continue to lean on that unique combination of expertise and passion as he guides the company forward. “The success of our business is a tribute to our 17 CFOs as well as the vibrant entrepreneurial spirit in the markets we serve. As our regional business communities continue to grow, Kaplan CFO is poised to support our clients and referral partners realize their potential. 

Meanwhile Kaplan will remain with the firm, assuming his new role as head of business development. 

“I am very excited about the opportunities to grow the firm in several areas. We look forward to expanding our work with for-profit and non-profit Boards of Directors and continuing to take our embedded engagement model to new markets through our remote services capabilities. We’re also fortunate to have several CFO Partners with deep experience in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) which is helping more clients plan and execute their exit strategy. In short, there are a lot of smaller business owners and CEO's who need financial leadership; Kaplan CFO is well positioned to continue supporting them for years to come,” he said.

For more information on Kaplan CFO, visit KaplanCFO.com.

Source: Kaplan CFO Solutions