Donald Russell, Managing Partner

Donald Russell is a trusted advisor to C Level executives. Don began his career as a commercial lender with National Westminster Bank, USA. For the past three decades Don Russell has been in investment banking, private equity and merchant banking primarily, but not exclusively in the cable television, media and telecommunications space. He also has experience in Healthcare and Aerospace. His years of experience as a board member, investor, deal maker and banker have required him to be a trusted advisor and coach to countless CEO’s, board chairs and senior executives in portfolio companies.

Additionally, Russell led the cable television and broadcast division of Communications Equity Associates, one of the largest boutique firms serving these industries. He was also President of CEA’s New York subsidiary for a number of years. Russell has also been the President and CEO of a South American media company employing in excess of 400 people. He is used to leading high performance teams himself and brings personal, hands on business leadership experience to each coaching engagement.

Don’s Extensive Experience Includes:

» Managing Director of CEA Media Group, LLC (“CEA”)

» Chairman of the Investment Committee for CEA Capital Partners USA, L.P., a $150 million equity fund since its inception in February 1997 and Member of the Investment Committee of Seaport Capital Partners, II, LP, a $262 million equity fund since its inception in February 2000. Both of these funds are focused on the entertainment, media, telecommunications and information technology industries and are operated by CEA through its subsidiary, CEA Capital Advisors, LLC.

» Currently Lead director of one public company, Aerosonic Corporation and two private companies, Fuzzie Buddies, LLC and Old UGC, Inc.

» President and CEO of Old UGC, Inc., a media company which owns a microwave (MMDS) system in Fortaleza, Brazil. (Formerly held two cable television systems in Peru.)

» Member of the strategic advisory boards of Vantage Strategy Consulting and @ Aquila, Inc.

From October 2004 through February 2006, Don was Vice Chairman of the Board for CEA Acquisition Corporation, a publicly traded Specified Purpose Acquisition Corporation (“SPAC”), which raised $24,150,000 in February 2004.

Other Selected Accomplishments:

» From July 1987 to June 1994, he was President of CEA’s New York affiliate, CEA, Inc. and was responsible for overseeing CEA’s mergers, acquisitions and corporate financing businesses in the cable television and broadcasting industries.

» Before joining CEA in 1978, he was employed by the National Westminster Bank, USA and was responsible for media and communications lending.

» Previously Don has been a Director of; eTrials Worldwide, Inc. ; Colonial Cablevision Corporation; River City Broadcasting; the International Radio and Television Society Foundation; Visual Services, Inc.; Cablesoft; Strategic Publications, LLC and BioCentrex, LLC.

Don received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from Colgate University. He was also elected to the Society of International Business Fellows in 2000.

Don can be reached at (813) 495-5091 and at Don.Russell@thesigmagroupllc.com