Bio

Through more than three decades and $5 billion of closed transactions, Brooks Crankshaw has led senior management teams through transformative M&A and capital-raise transactions. Brooks specializes in advising these clients on selling a company, sourcing acquisition capital, and refinancing a business for future growth. With a pragmatic yet personable approach, his experience includes successful transactions across diverse industries including HVAC and other facility services, industrial services, professional services, financial institutions, packaging, and retailing. Before joining Forbes Partners, Brooks served as Managing Director and led Business Services Investment Banking at Balmoral Advisors, a boutique investment bank headquartered in Chicago. He was a Partner at The Chicago Corporation, where he both advised clients and served as Chief Marketing Officer. Earlier, Brooks founded his own investment banking firm, Highland Ridge Capital, which provided sell-side and capital formation advisory to companies and was named a top middle-market investment bank by Axial. His career is rooted in an 18-year tenure at J.P. Morgan Securities where he served as Managing Director and led various initiatives including managing an international team in London, England. The team delivered structured debt solutions to European clients, augmenting clients’ balance sheets with low-cost debt funded by institutional securities. With a commitment to exceptional results, Brooks fosters enduring relationships built on trust, integrity, and mutual success. His attention to the multiple facets of a transaction makes him a trusted ally for business owners navigating their next chapter. Brooks is frequently called upon by trade publications and associations to share his wisdom and expertise. His articles have appeared in such publications as Axial Advisor, The Street, HVACR Business, and ACG Media. He has been a featured speaker with organizations such as the iGlobal Forum. Brooks earned an MBA in Finance and Corporate Strategy from The Wharton School of The University of Pennsylvania and a BA in Economics from the University of Michigan. He is an active member in the Denver chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth and contributes his time as a volunteer Land Steward for Jefferson County Open Space. Outside the boardroom, Brooks values time with his wife, Lisa, and daughter, Aline. An avid outdoor enthusiast, he enjoys downhill skiing, road and mountain biking, hiking, travel, and SCUBA diving.