Pantelis A. “Pete” Georgiadis

Pete Georgiadis is the founder and CEO of Synetro Group, a private investment and strategic advisory firm. A serial entrepreneur, he has more than 20 years experience advising, building and operating distinctive business-to-business companies.

At Synetro Georgiadis has been an active investor and contributor to the success of multiple web based technology and business services companies, including Insurance Noodle, Inc. (sold to Willis Holdings in 2007), Knowledge Advisors, Inc, and CrossCheck Compliance. He also has led the turnaround of Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet and had an ongoing advisory role with Fortune 500 manufacturing and distribution companies.

Prior to founding Synetro Group, Pete was the Chief Operating Officer of Lante Corporation where he led the strategic repositioning and operating transformation of the company from an established systems integrator into a high-growth internet consulting leader. He also prepared the company for a successful IPO.

Georgiadis joined Lante from McKinsey and Company, where he was an Associate Principal and a leader in the firm’s Marketing and Sales & Channel Management practices. While at McKinsey, he worked with multiple global manufacturing and distribution companies across industries to accelerate growth and transform their performance with superior customer-driven strategies, operations, organizations and technology. Prior to McKinsey, he worked for Hewlett-Packard and Orco Ltd. in several marketing and general management roles in the UK, Switzerland and Greece.

He holds a B.Sc. in Electronic Engineering from the University of Sussex (UK), an M.Sc. in Computer Science from London’s Imperial College, and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Georgiadis serves on the Boards of Corporate Synergies Group, CrossCheck Compliance LLC, Gleanster LLC, Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet LLC, Knowledge Advisors Inc., and Promisec Ltd. Pete is actively involved in the Chicago business community, and a committed supporter of a number of education and social service delivery organizations. He is married with three children.

Russell E. Faulk

Russ Faulk is a Principal at Synetro Group and the operating partner focused on helping companies differentiate their offering and compete based on their total customer experience. With over 20 years track record in experience and product design, Russ has been instrumental in helping a number of companies shape their customer experience strategy. Since Synetro’s acquisition of Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet in 2005, he has also led the firm’s successful transformation of this 100 year old niche manufacturing company to a well recognized brand that sets the bar for design, quality and performance, as Kalamazoo’s Vice-President of Marketing and Product Development.

Russ joined Synetro in 2001 from CSC Consulting where he served as Creative Director and User Experience Manager for the Chicago eBusiness Development Center. He delivered user experience strategies including visual design, information architecture and usability for large projects and complex technologies. Prior to CSC, Russ was the Director of Design at PVI Communications, Ltd. He was engaged by clients to develop and leverage brands across healthcare, finance, manufacturing, retail, technology and professional services industries. Russ got his professional start as an information designer at Ligature, Inc., an educational research and development firm.

Russ is a graduate of the Fine Arts College of Washington University in St. Louis. He is an accomplished sports kite designer – who has been honored for his contributions in the aerodynamics of kites by the National Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian - an international sports kite flying competitor and a leader of the sport’s world federation.

Simo Kamppari

Simo Kamppari is a Principal at Synetro Group and an operating partner focused on shaping the strategy and driving the operating performance of Synetro portfolio companies. He has a 15 year track record of leading organizational change from bottom-up and top-down. Simo is currently working with the CEO and management team of Corporate Synergies Group, a leading mid-market employee benefits brokerage, on refining and implementing its long-term profitable growth strategy.

Simo joined Synetro in 2010 from McKinsey and Company where he was a consultant for five years, working with technology, financial services and education clients on board level issues related to strategy, operational performance improvement, and organizational design. Prior to joining McKinsey, Simo was a Group Manager at Oracle Corporation. In this role he led the development of applications software for sales analysis and budgeting, and drove numerous enhancements to the software development approach utilized by the organization.

Simo holds a B. Sc. and M. Eng. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. He is an avid car enthusiast, part time volleyballer, and a married father of two living near Philadelphia.