Dealmakers Dialogues: A middle market in transition

As Founder and CEO, Banks oversees business operations and direct investment opportunities at Bourne Partners (a leading healthcare focused investment bank) and Bourne Partners Strategic Capital. Under Banks’ leadership, the firm has been party to $20 billion of transactions in the Pharmaceutical, Healthcare Services and Consumer Healthcare sectors having represented hundreds of closely held / entrepreneur led companies as well as those owned by many of the elite healthcare private equity funds.   

Currently, Banks is involved in the firms’ investments in CadenceRx, Carlin Consumer Health, Eximia Research and MedPharm. He was previously involved with the boards of Covis Pharma Sarl and PAI Pharma prior to their sales in 2015 and 2025 respectively.  He received a B.A. degree in Business Management from North Carolina State University and an M.B.A. from Wake Forest University. He is a member of Young Presidents Organization (YPO – Gold).

Banks is also the founder of Tanner Pharma Group, a leading pharma services company dedicated to providing managed access, commercialization and clinical trials services to patients and partners in more than 100 countries.  

While Banks has derived great satisfaction by offering focused financial advisory services to, and investing in Pharma, Healthcare, and consumer-oriented companies that need strategic and operational insights; he is even more gratified by knowing that his work has helped companies to improve the health and well-being of patients across the world. He is passionate about providing healthcare and specifically pharmaceuticals to less fortunate patients, as demonstrated by supporting The Bourne Foundation, The Max Foundation, MVA Society and other non-profit organizations. He also supports local Charlotte-area organizations such as Myers Park United Methodist Church and Baby Bundles. In addition to his passion for a sub-80 round of golf and fresh ski powder, Banks enjoys traveling to new and interesting destinations and spending time with his wife (Molly) and children (Fairbanks and Mary Pope). 

Ron Eliasek joined Jefferies as Chariman of TMT Investmnet Banking in September 2023. He has served in the industry for nearly 30 years and has completed industry-defining transactions with many of the leading companies and private equity firms in the technology sector.

Mr. Eliasek previously served as Chairman of TMT Investment Banking at Bank of America for over a decade, and he also worked at Citi and Wells Fargo in their respective investment banking divisions. He started his career as an engineer in General Electric's Aerospace division in 1993.

Mr. Eliasek has a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Virginia and an MS from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is also a CFA charterholder.

John Sherman leads William Blair’s coverage of the transportation and logistics and equipment-as-a-service sectors and is based in the firm’s Charlotte office. He joined William Blair's investment banking team in 2020. Prior to William Blair, he worked for Piper Sandler and Fidus Partners and began his career as a corporate finance attorney specializing in mergers and acquisitions.

Dan joined Service Logic in 2017 and was named Vice President of Corporate Development in 2022. In this role, Dan is responsible for developing acquisition strategy and all aspects of the M&A life cycle, which includes sourcing, evaluating and executing acquisitions to support our strategy across Service Logic and its companies. Since joining Service Logic, the company has successfully acquired and integrated over 100 companies.

Prior to Service Logic, Dan served as an advisory manager for global accounting firm Deloitte, advising large strategic and private equity clients on buy and sell transactions. Dan earned a bachelor’s degree in business finance and accounting from Elon University and is a CPA in the state of North Carolina. He also serves on the Elon President’s Young Leadership Council.

Paul Bennett is a seasoned sales and business development executive with extensive experience in the SaaS and EPM/BI sectors. Currently serving as Senior Vice President of Sales at Datasite since May 2016, Paul has held multiple leadership roles within the company, driving successful sales strategies in the M&A industry. Prior to Datasite, Paul worked at Velocity Technology Solutions as Vice President of the EPM/BI Line of Business, overseeing global sales and delivery for various solutions. Paul also spent time at TITAN GS, where responsibilities included leading global EPM delivery and managing corporate finance functions. Early in the career, Paul gained initial experience as a Minor League Player for the Atlanta Braves. Paul holds an MBA from Wake Forest University School of Business and a degree in Business Administration from Elon University.