Dennis Pollack

New York

[ dpollack@edgerockadvisors.com ]

Dennis Pollack is a Senior Managing Director and leads the Private Placement Practice at EdgeRock Realty Advisors, Compass Advisers' joint venture with FTI Consulting dedicated exclusively to the real estate sector.

      Prior to joining EdgeRock, Mr. Pollack was a Partner and Senior Managing Director at Laurus‑Valens Capital Management, an investment management firm that makes private investments in both private and publicly‑traded small and microcap companies.  At Laurus‑Valens, Mr. Pollack was a member of the firm's Management Committee and was primarily responsible for the firm's strategic initiatives as well as capital raising and investor relations.  Mr. Pollack and his team raised over $800 million while at Laurus‑Valens, primarily from offshore investors in Australia, Japan, and throughout Europe.

      Mr. Pollack joined Laurus‑Valens from Paulson & Company, a multi‑billion hedge fund, where he served as Chief Operating Officer.  In this role, Mr. Pollack reported directly to Fund Manager John Paulson, and had total responsibility for managing all aspects of the multi‑strategy business, including operations, compliance, marketing, legal, investor relations, accounting, and third‑party relationships such as prime brokerage, administrators, and accounting firms.

      Previously, Mr. Pollack served as President, CEO and Director of Connecticut Bank of Commerce and, earlier, as President, CEO and Director of The Savings Bank of Rockland County.  At both institutions, he was hired as a bank turnaround specialist and successfully returned both banks to profitability before each was sold.  Prior to that, Mr. Pollack served as co‑General Partner of Pollack Investment Partnership.  In his capacity as Fund Manager, Mr. Pollack served as an activist investor in undervalued community banks.  In addition, he pioneered Sony Corporation of America's venture into the medical electronics business as President of this startup division.

      Mr. Pollack has served as a member of the Board of Directors for several publicly‑traded companies and non‑profit organizations, including Wayne Savings Bank, Interactive Flight Technologies, and Environmental Waste Management.  He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors at PPM Technologies, Inc.  He has served as Chairman of the Spring Valley Chapter of the Salvation Army, and was a member of the Advisory Council for United Way of Rockland County.

      Mr. Pollack has been a frequent speaker at banking conferences and has published numerous articles related to the financial services industry, including What the Thrifts Should Do, and Managing the Human Dimension in Mergers and Acquisitions.  He received an M.B.A. degree in money and financial markets from Columbia University, a B.S. degree in economics from Seton Hall University, and a diploma in bank lending from New York University.