Builders of Enterprise Value
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Craig K. Harding - Founder, Chairman & CEO
Mr. Harding is the Founder, Chairman & CEO of The Harding Group, which he started in 1984. He has over 40 years of experience in the private equity industry specializing in niche middle market manufacturing companies. He is a pioneer in PE utilizing his seasoned operating, strategic and financial experience and has been an active leader in all of the firm's portfolio companies. He has bought, grown and sold over 17 manufacturing business for his own account during this time. Prior to founding The Harding Group, Mr. Harding helped start and ran as COO the Private Equity business of General Electric Capital Corporation (GECC) where he pioneered direct investments in companies. Prior to these Private Equity responsibilities, he ran the Strategic Planning and Business Development Operation for GECC, reporting to the President and Chief Executive Officer. While in this position, he started two businesses for GECC and closed several major strategic acquisitions. |
Before joining GECC, Mr. Harding was Corporate Vice President of PaineWebber specializing in corporate development and mergers and acquisitions. His previous operating experience includes (1) starting and running an importing business for United Fruit Company in Latin America and (2) was responsible for turning around a large agribusiness operation in the United States. Before Business School, he was with a predecessor of J.P. Morgan Chase as an Assistant Vice President in Corporate Lending.
Mr. Harding received his MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he served on the Board of Overseers. Previously, he was Chairman of the Graduate Executive Board overseeing the MBA program, is past Chairman of the Wharton Fund, and is a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award of the Wharton Alumni Association for his service to The Wharton School.
He graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a BA in Economics and a minor in Mathematics.
In addition, Mr. Harding currently serves on the Advisory Board of Trustees of the Greenwich Council of the Boy Scouts of America where he received a national distinguished service award for service to youth. He is also a former Trustee of the Eagle Hill School, and is currently a member of the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO Gold).
He is married and currently lives in Connecticut with his family.
Mr. Harding received his MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he served on the Board of Overseers. Previously, he was Chairman of the Graduate Executive Board overseeing the MBA program, is past Chairman of the Wharton Fund, and is a recipient of the Distinguished Service Award of the Wharton Alumni Association for his service to The Wharton School.
He graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University with a BA in Economics and a minor in Mathematics.
In addition, Mr. Harding currently serves on the Advisory Board of Trustees of the Greenwich Council of the Boy Scouts of America where he received a national distinguished service award for service to youth. He is also a former Trustee of the Eagle Hill School, and is currently a member of the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO Gold).
He is married and currently lives in Connecticut with his family.