MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Guardian Sale Showcases Power of the CIANJ Network
Aside from its advocacy mission , the Commerce & Industry Association of New Jersey ( CIANJ ) is a vibrant network of business leaders who share ideas , learn from each other , and drive their businesses forward . The recent sale of Guardian Data Destruction , a South Hackensack , New Jersey-based company and long-time member of CIANJ , underscores the benefits of being part of this influential network .
The transaction , announced in early May 2024 , transfers control ownership of Guardian to San Francisco private equity firm , Housatonic Partners , thereby allowing Glenn Laga , Founder and Chief Executive Officer ( CEO ) of Guardian , to retire , while his partner , Michael Sirota , remains as the company ’ s Chief Operating Officer in partnership with Housatonic and new Guardian CEO , Rob Alston . For a decade and a half , Laga and Sirota built Guardian into a highly successful business through incredible growth , innovation , and a best-in-class reputation in the marketplace . With Guardian well positioned for the future under Housatonic , Laga and Sirota can now enjoy the value they have created for themselves , their customers , and their employees .
Selling a business like Guardian requires a well-rounded and coordinated team of experts . All parties that supported Guardian and its shareholders in this transaction are CIANJ members , who came together through the shared networking opportunities provided by the CIANJ .
It started in the Summer of 2022 , when Drew Maldonado – a CIANJ Executive Committee
Glenn Laga ( Founder ), Guardian Data Destruction
member and Private Client Advisor with Bank of America ( BofA ) Private Bank – introduced Laga to a fellow CIANJ member , Anthony Moretti , the Head of Investment Banking at Brooks , Houghton & Company , Inc . ( BHC ). By the Spring of 2023 , after several discussions about the various aspects and challenges of a sale process , Guardian had engaged BHC to serve as its sell-side advisor .
Photo : Guardian Data Destruction
Rob Alston , New CEO , Guardian Data Destruction
According to Laga , “ BHC ran the ideal process for us and identified the perfect investors in Housatonic and Alston to help build on our company ’ s long history of success , while advising our team every step of the way , from initial discussions all the way through to closing .”
The involvement of BHC was only the first step in the sale process . From there , CIANJ member
Continued on page 23
Photo : Guardian Data Destruction ( Left to right ) Kathleen Alexander , Partner at SAX , LLP , and husband John ; new Guardian CEO Rob Alston ; and Eric Seidman of SAX and his wife attend Glenn Laga ’ s retirement party .
Photo : Joseph Cendeno , https :// www . instagram . com / kaosjc
Friends , colleagues , and CIANJ members , raise a glass at Laga ’ s retirement party .
Photo : Joseph Cendeno , https :// www . instagram . com / kaosjc 20 COMMERCE www . commercemagazinenj . com