Bill Breen is a seasoned mergers and acquisitions expert and senior executive with over five decades of distinguished leadership in the specialty chemicals and petroleum industries. With more than 50 years of professional experience spanning corporate development, business strategy, M&A advisory, and strategic operations, Bill has built an exceptional reputation as a trusted advisor, operator, and strategist within the global industrial landscape.
Bill currently serves as a Senior Advisor at Balmoral Advisors, a leading mid-market investment bank where he specializes in advising clients on both sell-side and buy-side M&A transactions. As a key member of Balmoral’s five-person Chemical M&A Team, he provides deep sector expertise, strategic guidance, and transactional leadership for clients in the chemicals and manufacturing sectors. His work at Balmoral reflects his unparalleled ability to bridge strategic planning with execution, creating substantial value for clients across the U.S. and international markets.
In addition to his role at Balmoral, Bill is the President of J William Breen, Inc., a boutique M&A advisory firm he founded in 2004. Over the past 20 years, he has successfully led buyside search initiatives for corporate and private equity clients, as well as sell-side processes for corporate divestitures, private business owners, and private equity sponsors. His transaction experience spans deal sizes ranging from $10 million to over $500 million, underscoring his fluency across a wide range of middle-market complexities.
Prior to his advisory career, Bill held pivotal leadership roles in the specialty chemicals sector. As President of ArrMaz Custom Chemicals, he led the management buyout of Custom Chemicals from Westvaco after 23 years of corporate ownership. He subsequently grew the business through strategic acquisitions and a merger that resulted in a $500 million specialty chemical leader. His tenure as Manager of New Ventures at Westvaco’s Chemical Division earlier in his career involved acquisitions that contributed approximately half of the $1 billion revenue base of MWV Specialty Chemicals, showcasing his impact on corporate growth and M&A success.
Throughout his career, Bill has completed numerous landmark transactions, including the sale of Croda’s Chicago oleochemical refinery (now Vantage Oleochemicals), the sale of SiVance for Clariant (now owned by Milliken), and site selection and advisory work for INOLEX’s flagship plant in Charlotte, North Carolina. He has also advised firms like Snow Phipps on M&A searches and Aakash Chemicals on the acquisition of Sandream Impact.
Bill’s professional expertise encompasses mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning, corporate development, product development, and business strategy. His work frequently extends to international M&A and cross-border transactions, particularly in Northern Europe and the UK. He is conversational in basic French and German, further enhancing his ability to collaborate across global markets.
Educationally, Bill is exceptionally well-grounded. He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Marketing and Finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and dual undergraduate degrees—a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Chemical Engineering (BChE)—from the University of Delaware, where he majored in Chemical Engineering and Economics.
In addition to his corporate leadership, Bill previously served on the board of the company he owned and ran, giving him direct governance and oversight experience. Although he is not currently serving on external boards, his track record of advising companies at the highest level and his extensive operational knowledge across all aspects of company management make him an exceptional board candidate.
Bill lives by the personal motto “Everyone Wins,” a reflection of his collaborative approach to business and his commitment to achieving positive outcomes for all stakeholders. Outside of his professional endeavors, he is an avid golfer and enjoys the balance and focus that the game brings.
With a rare blend of technical, financial, and strategic expertise, Bill Breen continues to offer organizations a steady hand, deep industry knowledge, and a results-driven mindset, making him a highly sought-after advisor and prospective board member for companies seeking growth, transformation, and sustainable success.
Character: Bill Breen is a principled leader who lives by the philosophy “Everyone Wins,” embodying fairness, collaboration, and integrity throughout his 50+ year career.
Knowledge: With extensive expertise in specialty chemicals, petroleum, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate development, Bill brings a deep well of industry and operational knowledge to every engagement.
Strategic: Bill has a proven track record of executing complex business strategies, from management buyouts and cross-border acquisitions to driving corporate growth and operational transformation.
Communication: An effective and collaborative communicator, Bill excels at building trust with stakeholders across diverse industries and geographies, ensuring clarity, alignment, and successful deal execution.
