Dun & Bradstreet Corp. (NYSE:DNB) executive Charles Gottdiener is back in charge of dealmaking. Since December 2007, he has led the business information and records provider's risk management business, but was recently promoted to
president of corporate development and strategy.
It's familiar turf. Gottdiener joined D&B in 2002 as leader of strategy and business development. During his tenure, he led several transactions, including the purchase of Hoover's Inc. (NASDAQ:HOOV) and a handful of strategic alliances that expanded D&B's presence in Europe.
But Gottdiener left D&B in 2006 for a similar position with Unisys Corp. (NYSE:UIS). It was a bold move. The information technology consulting firm was under intense pressure from hedge fund investor MMI Investment LP to split up the company and had recently announced plans to unload nonstrategic assets.
Under Gottdiener's watch, Unisys did sell its media business to Atex Group Ltd. for about $28 million, but it divested nothing else. It wasn't enough
to pacify MMI (The Deal Pipeline subscription required), and Unisys eventually hired Bear, Stearns & Co. to explore strategic alternatives. That was in February 2008, about two months after Gottdiener left Unisys for the familiar confines of D&B.
Now that he's back in a dealmaking role, Gottdiener will lead development of long-term growth initiatives, including assessing possible acquisitions and partnerships. -
Suzanne Stevens
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