MANAGING DIRECTOR

jbessone@affinityventures.com
505.881.5352

John joined Affinity Ventures in 2018 and has been involved in the Merger & Acquisition business for over thirty years.  Prior to joining Affinity John worked for Fort Washington Capital Partners and managed a $45 million Co-Investment Fund for the State of New Mexico.  Along with other Private Equity and Venture investors he led initial and follow on rounds of investment in nine New Mexico based companies.  Prior to Fort Washington John worked with private investment banking and intermediary firms where he initiated, negotiated and closed M&A transactions with total market value of over $500 million.  Throughout his career John has worked closely with a wide range of private business owners advising them with their efforts to grow or when the time was right, sell or recapitalize their companies.

Prior Experience
Fort Washington Investment Advisors, Santa Fe, New Mexico & Cincinnati, Ohio
Stevenson & Company, Santa Fe, New Mexico & Chicago, Illinois
KTL Industries, Santa Fe, New Mexico & Memphis, Tennessee
Richland Gordon & Company, Chicago, Illinois
ABC Sports, Inc., New York, New York

Education / Qualifications / Professional Organizations
Bachelor of Arts, Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts
Post Graduate Degree, Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, New Hampshire
Association for Corporate Growth, (ACG)
Directors Guild of America, (DGA)

Community Activities & Personal Interests
Ice Hockey, Golf, Hiking, and Family
Founder and Former President of Santa Fe Youth Hockey Association

Other Interests
Won Emmy Award for work on 1984 Summer Olympics