CHICAGO, Ill., April 10, 2024 — Creative Planning Business Services, formerly Alliance Management, is excited to announce the opening of its Chicago office and welcome four new team members to the firm: Tina Hughes, James Busk, Catalin Diaconu and Anne Doherty.
With decades of experience in turnaround management and unique skillsets from partnering with clients across industries, this new Chicago team, managed by Hughes, will significantly expand the turnaround expertise and resources Creative Planning can offer to clients in the Chicago and Milwaukee markets and surrounding areas. In their roles, Hughes, Busk, Diaconu and Doherty will provide business assessments, analyze liquidity positions, develop turnaround plans, manage relationships between lenders and borrowers, negotiate financing arrangements and provide M&A services for businesses and distressed real estate. Their practices will continue to include receiverships, assignments for the benefit of creditors (ABC) — including Section 128 in Wisconsin — and advisory services in bankruptcy matters.
“We’re thrilled to have Tina, James, Catalin and Anne join our firm,” said Lee Roberts, Managing Director of Creative Planning Business Services. “Their hiring marks a major milestone and allows us to grow our business presence in a market we’ve had our eyes on for years. These four are all passionate, results-oriented individuals whose in-depth expertise will be an incredible asset for businesses seeking strategic guidance with turnaround management. I know this group will achieve great things under Tina’s leadership, and I look forward to the impact they’ll make in this highly competitive market.”
Hughes, Busk, Diaconu and Doherty will serve on the Business Advisory team led by Chris Tomas, who oversees turnaround management and M&A services. Creative Planning’s Business Advisory team helps clients in all 50 states address complex business challenges with specialized consulting in areas such as turnaround services, business valuations, M&A services, succession planning, internal controls and more.
Hughes received her Bachelor of Science degree in finance from Michigan State University. She’s an active member of the Turnaround Management Association (TMA) and served as a co-chair for the TMA Network of Women in 2016 and 2017. She has also been active in the TMA’s Midwest Chapter, having served as their Director from 2018 to 2020, their Secretary in 2022, their VP of Communications in 2023 and their VP of Programs in 2024. Hughes was granted the Certified Turnaround Professional (CTP) designation by the TMA in 2017.
Busk has a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and a Master of Business Administration degree from Loyola University Chicago. He’s a member of TMA and holds the CTP designation. He is licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation’s Division of Real Estate as a real estate broker and serves as a member of the National Association of Realtors, Illinois Association of Realtors and Chicago Association of Realtors. He’s also an associate member of the Chicago Bar Association.
Diaconu received a Master of Science degree in accounting and a Master of Business Administration degree in finance from the University of Illinois Chicago. He’s a member of the TMA, Illinois CPA Society, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Advisors, and Secured Finance Network. Diaconu is also a certified public accountant in Illinois and a Certified Insolvency and Restructuring Advisor.
Doherty has a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from DePaul University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management. Her prior work experience provides operational and financial accounting proficiency. She’s an active member of TMA.
About Creative Planning
Creative Planning, LLC is an independent wealth management firm that provides a financial planning-led investment management approach, retirement planning, estate planning, trust services, tax advice and family office services for individuals as well as business services and institutional money management. Creative Planning and its affiliates have more than $300 billion in combined assets under management and advisement as of December 31, 2023.*
*United Capital Financial Advisors is an affiliate of Creative Planning.
