Michael Norkus
Michael is the President of Alliance Consulting Group. Prior to founding Alliance in 1986, Michael was Vice President and Director of The Boston Consulting Group where he worked for 11 years. He holds a Ph.D. magna cum laude in Law and Economics from the University of Hamburg, Germany, a Master of Comparative Business Law from the University of Paris, and received an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

In his twenty nine years of consulting experience, Michael has led large strategy assignments for companies in industries such as consumer products, software, telecommunications, semiconductors, and professional services. Recent assignments included the review of the business unit structure, senior executive organization, Chief Executive Officer succession, and executive decision-making process for a $2 billion international high-tech products company. Michael also led a widely-publicized strategy and organizational study for a large consumer products company in transition from a founder-leader to more decentralized, professional management.

Michael has particular experience in developing growth strategies. Accomplishments include the entry into interactive toys for a leading entertainment company, a new marketing strategy for a leading soft drink producer, and a new product strategy for the leader in industrial explosives. His functional expertise lies in creating new business concepts and helping companies reinvigorate their cultures and management processes.

Michael has published on topics of strategy and is a frequent speaker. He has led senior executive workshops and seminars for a number of Fortune 500 companies. He has also led several merger, acquisition, and divestiture studies.

John O'Reilly
John is a Partner of Alliance Consulting Group and manages the firm's financial services and acquisitions practices. He holds an M.B.A. degree from Harvard Business School, and B.A. and M.A. degrees from Cambridge University (U.K.).

John's consulting work has spanned a broad range of strategic issues across a wide range of industries including financial services, media and consumer products. He has managed studies reviewing corporate, business unit and product strategy, and has examined functional issues such as marketing and distribution. He has also led many assignments evaluating acquisitions, buyouts, recapitalizations and divestitures for both corporate and private equity clients.

Prior to joining Alliance, John's management experience included working as a Group Product Manager for Fidelity Investments and as Vice President of Marketing for General Cinema Corporation, where he managed field marketing, promotions, direct marketing and market research in the theatre division. John's consulting experience includes working as a consultant with Bain & Company, and as Managing Director of Knightsbridge Associates.

John has been a speaker at a number of industry association conferences on strategic topics, and is the author of a published Harvard Business School case study. His background also includes serving on the Harvard Business School faculty as a Research Associate.

Tony Rhie
Tony is a Partner of Alliance Consulting Group and leads the firm's Consumer Goods and Food and Beverage practices. He holds an MBA from the J.L. Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Science degree, magna cum laude, in Finance and Marketing from the Wharton School of Business.

In his twelve years of strategy consulting, Tony has led a wide range of engagements for clients focused around areas such as innovation growth strategies, profit improvement, and marketing and sales effectiveness. His clients have included leading companies in soft drinks, magazine publishing, toys and gaming and themed entertainment. Recent assignments have included repositioning a major cruise line, finding profitable new growth opportunities for a leading beverage manufacturer, and improving the marketing effectiveness for a leading toy and gaming company.

Prior to joining Alliance, Tony was a consultant with The LEK Consulting Group where he specialized in value-based management and mergers and acquisitions strategies.

Brad Dufour
Brad is a Partner of Alliance Consulting Group. He holds an MBA from The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University, a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute with Highest Distinction and a MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.

In his fifteen years of business experience, Brad has led a wide range of engagements for clients with a particular emphasis on developing organic and acquisition-based growth strategies. Assignments have included areas such as innovation and new product development, strategic planning, market entry, profitability improvement, customer segmentation, financial valuations, acquisition screens and due diligence. His clients span a wide range of industries with a particular focus on consumer goods, financial services and technology. Recent accomplishments include developing a market entry strategy into a new beverage category for a Fortune 500 consumer packaged goods manufacturer, improving the growth and profitability of a multi-category branded sporting goods company, and leading the turnaround of a test and measurement company.

Prior to joining Alliance Consulting Group, Brad worked as a Consultant for A.T. Kearney where he focused on supply chain strategies. Brad also worked for General Electric as a Senior Engineer and is also a graduate of GE’s Edison Leadership Development Program.