Mr. Durnford is the Chairman and Senior Managing Director at Merit Investment Bank. He has over three decades of experience in finance, investment banking, principal investing and corporate strategic planning and has successfully structured, negotiated and completed over 150 M&A transactions with nearly $4 billion in value and is an M&A Advisor Hall of Fame Inductee. He is regarded as one of the leading middle-market investment bankers in the nation and is highly sought after for his insights on how to gain liquidity and maximize value from private company ownership. In addition to his technical expertise, Mr. Durnford has cultivated relationships with business owners, corporate executives, family office managers, private equity firms, and strategic buyers in numerous industries.
Mr. Durnford has founded and chaired numerous private companies as a serial entrepreneur and investor. He has also served as a director for both private and public companies. Mr. Durnford has a unique ability to empathize with clients at both a personal and business level, which has led to him being a trusted advisor to many. Mr. Durnford is a vital part of our success and growth at Merit Investment Bank & Company.
Mr. Durnford is a registered securities principal, holding the Series 24, 27, 7, 63 and 79 licenses. He earned a BS in Business Administration from the University of Colorado Boulder Leeds School. Mr. Durnford has received numerous awards and recognitions, including Deal Maker of the Year, Deal Maker of the Decade, and Deal of the Year in multiple industry categories, as awarded by the M&A Advisor Magazine. Mr. Durnford was selected as one of the Top 200 Boutique Investment Bankers in the United States in 2012.