Thomas Allison Joins Areté Capital Partners, Strengthening Leadership in Complex Turnaround and Restructuring Situations
NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES — Areté Capital Partners today announced that Thomas Allison, a highly respected turnaround executive, restructuring advisor, and independent director, has joined the firm. With decades of experience guiding organizations through financial and operational complexity, Allison brings deep expertise across aviation, healthcare, financial services, and other capital-intensive industries.
Throughout his career, Allison has served as CEO, Chief Restructuring Officer (CRO), independent director, and fiduciary, advising boards and stakeholders during moments of significant transition. His appointment reinforces Areté’s focus on delivering experienced leadership, independent judgment, and outcome-driven advisory services to companies navigating critical inflection points.
Shawn Hassel, Managing Partner of Areté, emphasized the strategic importance of Allison’s addition to the firm.
“Tom brings decades of experience leading companies through periods of complexity and change,” Hassel said. “As organizations face increasing financial and operational pressures, leaders like Tom are choosing firms built for these moments. His decision to join Areté reflects the type of platform we are building — one grounded in experienced leadership, independent thinking, and genuine partnership with boards and management teams when it matters most. Tom understands that the best solutions are driven by accountability and momentum, not hours billed.”
Allison noted that culture and trust were central to his decision to join the firm.
“For me, it begins with culture,” Allison said. “The people and how they interact are critically important. I have known several individuals at Areté for many years, and I believe their integrity is beyond reproach. The best way to succeed in this business is to work with people you know, like, and trust — and that clearly exists at Areté.”
Beyond cultural alignment, Allison was drawn to Areté’s differentiated strategy, particularly its emphasis on independent board leadership as a core service offering. Over the past decade, he has built a strong practice serving as an independent director and fiduciary in distressed and special situations, helping boards provide steady governance and decisive leadership when clarity and direction are most needed.
“Areté’s focus on independent board members as a product line aligns directly with my experience,” Allison said. “I’ve been very successful in that role and am excited to expand that offering here. At the same time, Areté’s broader capabilities allow me to bring comprehensive solutions to my relationships in private equity and banking when situations become complex. Our focus is on outcomes — our success is defined by what changes in the business.”
Allison’s career spans banking, investment banking, consulting, executive leadership, and board service. He began in bank workouts at First National Bank of Chicago before helping to build and lead restructuring practices at Arthur Andersen. He later advised on several of the largest airline and healthcare restructurings in the United States, including United Airlines. In addition, he has served as CEO of a major healthcare system and as an independent director and fiduciary across numerous distressed and special situation engagements.
At Areté, Allison will work closely with boards, CEOs, lenders, and investors to guide organizations through significant financial and operational challenges. His approach centers on clear decision-making, disciplined execution, and alignment among stakeholders in high-pressure environments.
“The most valuable thing we bring is judgment under pressure,” Allison said. “We’ve been in the room when difficult decisions must be made. We understand how to help leadership teams align, commit, and execute. Our focus is on what can be built going forward, not simply analyzing what has already happened.”
He added, “Ultimately, this work is about helping organizations move forward. That requires clarity about what must change and the conviction to act. That’s exactly what Areté is designed to deliver.”
About Areté Capital Partner
Areté Capital Partners is a leadership and advisory firm that works alongside boards, sponsors, and executive teams during critical moments of change. The firm provides experienced judgment, independent perspective, and hands-on involvement to help organizations navigate complexity, align around strategic priorities, and execute with confidence.
Areté drives momentum when it matters most.
