Shant Mardirossian has joined Littlejohn & Co. as Managing Director, Chief Operating Officer and Head of Strategic Initiatives after most recently serving as Partner and COO at Kohlberg. Based in Greenwich, Conn., he spoke with us about how his experience will shape his approach to the role and what he enjoys doing outside of work.
Tell us a little bit about your background.
I began in public accounting, where I learned the fundamentals of business language and earned my CPA. From there, I joined McKinsey’s investment office, overseeing all administration aspects for private investment funds established exclusively for its partners. I developed the skills that would allow me to transition to Kohlberg, which at the time was a small family office-run private equity firm. Over the course of my 30-year tenure, I built out Kohlberg’s operational infrastructure and investor base, contributing to its strong market position today.
What will you be focusing on in your new role?
The focus of my new role at Littlejohn is on three elements: people, process and platform. This newly created role was developed to assist our internal infrastructure to scale in a way that supports Littlejohn’s culture of focus, flexibility, and hands-on value creation strategy at every level. My goal is to strengthen the firm’s operational structure, deepening the coordination between our investment teams, portfolio support group, investor relations, and operations.
What’s a small habit or routine that quietly makes you better at your job?
Professional empathy. Effective leadership starts with understanding the daily challenges colleagues face and helping them succeed. I measure my success by the success of those around me, which drives business success. I think of myself as an orchestra conductor. Each musician is an expert, and the conductor brings everyone together into a symphony.
What was the last book you read, and do you recommend it?
“Necessary Endings” by Dr. Henry Cloud helped me process and to prepare me for the new role at Littlejohn. I re-read “Good to Great” by Jim Collins. I strongly recommend both.