Our Team

✎ Manage Staff members

• 
  Betsy McCullar
  Partner

  Betsy McCullar develops and executes practical marketing and strategy solutions for brands and businesses. Beginning her career in retail, Betsy left a boutique advertising and public relations firm for Forstmann, then the largest U.S.’ wool manufacturer, where she was director of strategic planning and communication. She began consulting more than a decade ago with the Jassin-O'Rourke Group, after Forstmann’s turnaround and emergence from bankruptcy. Her roster of clients has included brand owners and diversified manufacturers and associations across North America, Europe, Central America, Mexico and Asia. Recent focus has been on transactional due diligence, turnaround strategies and crisis communication. Betsy is working with a UK-based private equity group seeking investment opportunities where maximum long term value can be achieved by turning around under-performing brands and leveraging emerging market distribution. Email Betsy at betsy@hilltopalliance.com.

• 
  Bud McCullar
  Partner

  Bud McCullar has 40 years’ experience in brand management, marketing, sales and operations, licensing and acquisitions. Recent transactional activity has largely involved fashion companies and brands seeking to increase their value through emerging markets strategies such as Emerisque Brand’s acquisition of MCS (formerly Marlboro Classics) from The Valentino Group and the Henry Cotton’s and Marina Yachting brands from the Moncler Group. He has initiated and managed wholesale and retail relationships in the UK, South Africa, Japan, Mexico, Canada, China and India. Bud began his career with VF Corp. and subsequently held senior executive positions at Jhane Barnes, Haggar, Forstmann and Earthbound. Bud launched his consulting career when he arranged the introduction of OP to Warnaco, resulting in Warnaco’s acquisition of OP. For the last several years, his focus has been on deal origination and transactional processes with largely European and U.S. consumer brands across multiple sectors. To contact Bud email bud@hilltopalliance.com.

• 
  Bob Stec
  Partner

  Bob Stec has 40 years’ experience in brand management, operational management, strategic positioning and business development. For the last 30 years he has held senior level responsibilities for multiple companies in the apparel and home furnishing categories. His experience spans both public and private companies in variety of business environments from operating divisions, corporate, leveraged, distressed, turnaround and private equity. Bob was trained at VF Corporation working at both the divisional and corporate levels. He has worked in an operating capacity for several private equity partners as well as a host of iconic brands from Wrangler, Lee, Stetson, London Fog, Tommy Bahama, Dockers and Marithé et François Girbaud on both a domestic and global basis. Bob has also served as a Professor of Management at Appalachian State University focusing on Strategic Management and Leadership, as a business mentor for emerging entrepreneurs at XRC Business Accelerator in NYC, at Launch Greensboro and as a sector expert in apparel and home furnishings for companies such as Emerisque Brands; Hicks, Muse, Tate and Furst and Sun Capital Partners. Email Bob at b.stec@hilltopalliance.com.