Our Team

Benjamin Gordon – Managing Director
ben@bgsa.com

Benjamin Gordon is founder and Managing Director of BG Strategic Advisors. Clients include a range of leading companies from Wall Street, venture capital, and the supply chain industry. Benjamin is responsible for leading key client engagements and setting the direction of the firm.

Prior to founding BG Strategic Advisors, Benjamin founded 3PLex, the Internet solution enabling third-party logistics companies to automate their business. Benjamin raised $28 million from blue-chip investors including Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs, BancBoston Ventures, CNF, and Ionian. He generated 3PLex feature stories in the New York Times, Business Week, ABC, Journal of Commerce, Lehrer News Hour, and other media. Benjamin recruited a CEO in late 2000 and formed BG Strategic Advisors the following year. 3PLex has since been sold to Maersk.

Prior to 3PLex, Benjamin led strategy projects in transportation and technology at Mercer Management Consulting, where he developed one of the first e-marketplace strategies for a logistics client. Previously, Benjamin worked with the CEO of Automotive Management, Inc. (AMI) to grow its logistics operations. Benjamin also worked as a venture capitalist with the BRM Group, where he assessed business-to-business e-commerce companies.

Benjamin is an active civic leader who is committed to giving back to the community. As founder and chairman of GesherCity, he has boosted young adult volunteerism in the greater Boston area. In three years, the organization has grown to over 2,000 members in five locations.

Benjamin received a Masters in Business Administration from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale College.

Reuben B. Johnson III – Managing Director
rjohnson@bgsa.com

Reuben joined BGSA in 2009 when he sold his firm, Botsford Associates LLC, to BG Strategic Advisors, Inc.  Reuben is a Managing Director and principal of the firm and is involved in all aspects of BGSA’s work including new business development, transaction execution and administration. He is the firm’s Financial Operations Officer and its Chief Compliance Officer.

Reuben began his banking  career at JP Morgan working with Mexican companies and public utilities. He spent 13 years at Lehman Brothers in a variety of roles including providing corporate finance services to energy companies and managing the Firm’s relationships with regional investment banks. Later he worked as a Managing Director at Raymond James in charge of the firm’s Financial Sponsors Group.

Reuben is active in civic affairs serving as Treasurer and Board member of the Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties and is past chairman of the John S and James L Knight Foundation’s Community Advisory Committee for Palm Beach County.

Reuben received an M.Phil from Columbia University, a M.A. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and a B.A. from Wesleyan University.

Chris Ristau – Senior Vice President
chris@bgsa.com

Chris is responsible for leading transactions and developing new business relationships.

Before joining BG Strategic Advisors, Chris worked in Citigroup Global Markets’ Media and Telecom practice where he advised on capital market and M&A transactions for companies including: Liberty Media, Western Wireless, Jupiter Telecommunications, Discovery Communications and Liberty Satellite and Technology.

Prior to Citigroup Global Markets, Chris worked in Bank of America’s Corporate Finance Group where he specialized in analyzing and resolving complex financial situations for his clients.

Chris received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Northwestern University.

Shai Greenwald – Senior Associate
shai@bgsa.com

Shai Greenwald joined BG Strategic Advisors in 2002. Shai works with clients on implementing successful growth strategies through M&A, with a focus on exploring opportunities in emerging markets. Among others, Shai worked on the AirRoad sale to Reliant Equity Investors, the Unicity sale to PBB, and the PWC purchase of TransLink. Shai is also responsible for the firm’s market intelligence and market research.

Prior to joining BG Strategic Advisors, Shai worked with FleetBoston Financial and EMC as a change agent leading organizational development and process improvement projects. Shai started his career as an executive recruiter with Heidrick and Struggles.

Shai holds an MBA from Boston University.

David Stubbs – Operating Partner
dave@bgsa.com

David Stubbs is an Operating Partner with BGSA.

Previously, David Stubbs was with Kuehne + Nagel from 2000-2009.  As Senior Vice President and General Manager for the Lead Logistics business, he started up and managed the P/L of the first global 4PL in logistics industry.  David was a leader in the replication of the offering in Europe and Asia to provide global platform for growth.

Prior to joining KN, David spent 21 years with Champion International (now International Paper) a Stamford, CT based forest products company where he held a variety of sales, marketing, and logistics positions.  His last position there was Vice President- Supply Chain.

David is a graduate of Haverford College with a bachelor’s degree in Economics and of The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with an MBA in Finance.