MICHAEL COOK
Founder and Chairman
Mr. Cook is the Founder and Chairman of SouthernSun Asset Management. In his over 35 years of experience as a research analyst and portfolio manager, Mr. Cook has developed a unique investment philosophy and process that serves as the core of SouthernSun’s strategies. Mr. Cook has appeared on CNBC, Fox Business News, and Bloomberg TV and has been featured in Forbes, Bloomberg Markets Magazine, Barron’s, and The Wall Street Journal as well as several other widely respected investment-oriented publications. Mr. Cook is an Associate Fellow and a member of the Principal’s Circle at Green Templeton College, University of Oxford. He serves on the Advisory Council of the Fogelman College of Business and Economics at the University of Memphis and on the boards of Cave Pictures Publishing, Omeq Medical, Thriving Cities Group and Kinrise Real Estate, Ltd. Mr. Cook also is the co-founder of LauraBelle Productions.
PHILLIP COOK
Chief Investment Officer & Managing Partner
Mr. Cook joined SouthernSun in 2006 and serves as Chief Investment Officer and Managing Partner. He leads the Investment Team and is responsible for all aspects of research and analysis, portfolio construction, and risk management for both of the firm’s investment strategies. In addition, he is a member of the firm’s Management Team. Prior to joining SouthernSun, Mr. Cook was an Analyst at Trivest Partners, a Miami-based private equity firm. He received his B.S. in International Business, summa cum laude, from Auburn University. Mr. Cook serves on the Board of Su Casa Family Ministries.
“Let the beauty we love be what we do.”
ALISON WHITLEY
Client Relations Associate
Ms. Whitley joined SouthernSun in 2022. Her current responsibilities include supporting the Client Relations & Business Development team. Prior to joining SouthernSun, Ms. Whitley served as the Executive Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Prior to that, Ms. Whitley was a Development Associate for Donor Relations at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Ms. Whitley holds B.A.’s in both Psychology and Theatre Arts from the University of Central Arkansas.
ANGELA WIMMER
President
Angela joined SouthernSun in 2021 and provides leadership for the client relations, business development, and operations teams. As a member of the Management Team, she also provides administrative leadership across the firm. Prior to joining SouthernSun, Angela led all advancement programs, including accounting, operations, compliance, IT, sales and marketing as Vice Chancellor of Institutional Advancement at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She also served as Executive Director of the 56-member UAMS Foundation Fund Board. Previous roles of similar leadership include Associate Vice Chancellor for Central Advancement at the Texas Tech University System, Senior Associate Director of Development at the University of Cambridge, and Director of Corporate Relations at Auburn University. She graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in political science and M.Ed. in organizational development and leadership.
ASHLEY MCNEELY
Chief Financial Officer
Mrs. McNeely joined SouthernSun in 2017. She serves as the Chief Financial Officer. Her primary responsibilities include management and oversight of the firm’s Accounting functions, financial statement preparation and analysis, maintenance of accounting controls and security of financial records. Prior to SouthernSun, Ashley worked in the audit practice of Ernst & Young, was a Finance Director at Verizon Wireless (formerly Alltel Communications) and a Sr. Finance Manager at Medtronic Spinal & Biologics. Ashley holds a BSBA degree in Accounting from the University of Arkansas and is an inactive CPA.
CHRIS PRUETT, CFA
Analyst
Mr. Pruett joined SouthernSun in 2016. He is a member of the Analytics and Support Team and is responsible for a variety of analytical projects that support the Investment Group. Mr. Pruett graduated from Auburn University with a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences and subsequently received his M.B.A. from the University of Memphis. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder.
DANIEL GAFFORD, CFP
Senior Associate
Mr. Gafford joined SouthernSun in 2013. His responsibilities include reviews of portfolio weightings and performance outliers; maintenance and implementation of the firm’s compliance rule library; trading of UMA and wrap account relationships; account reconciliation, and other operational aspects of the firm. Prior to joining SouthernSun, Mr. Gafford worked at Morgan Keegan/Raymond James as a reconciliation and performance analyst. Mr. Gafford graduated with a degree in computer engineering from Christian Brothers University in 2006. He also holds an executive certificate in financial planning from Christian Brothers University and passed the CFP exam in 2013.
JIM DORMAN, CFA
Portfolio Manager & Principal
Mr. Dorman joined SouthernSun in 2010. His responsibilities include the research and analysis of investment opportunities and monitoring of existing portfolio companies, and he provides input on portfolio management and construction. Prior to joining SouthernSun, Mr. Dorman was the Managing Director of Finance at Mercury Investment Management and was a financial advisor in the Corporate Reporting department at FedEx Corporation. He began his career as a CPA at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, where he focused on financial audits for both public and private companies in the financial services sector. Mr. Dorman received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Auburn University and his M.B.A. from the University of Tennessee. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder.
JENELL JONES
Office Manager & Executive Assistant
Mrs. Jones joined SouthernSun in 2016. Her current responsibilities include serving as the Office Manager and Executive Assistant. Prior to joining SouthernSun, Mrs. Jones served as the Executive Assistant to the Managing Partner & Executive Leadership Team at Northwestern Mutual. Jenell was also an Executive Assistant at ServiceMaster for 14 years and at Federal Express Corporation.
“Mathematics, rightly viewed, possesses not only truth but supreme beauty.”
Bertrand Russell
LISA EWELL
Associate
Mrs. Ewell joined SouthernSun in 2023. She supports the Investment Team in various capacities including communication and administration, analytics support, and collaboration among the wider firm. Prior to joining SouthernSun, Mrs. Ewell worked at the University of Mississippi as an instructor in Mathematics. She received a B.S. and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering and an M.S. in Mathematics from the University of Mississippi.
MICHAEL CROSS
Portfolio Manager & Principal
Mr. Cross joined SouthernSun in 2008. His responsibilities include the research and analysis of investment opportunities and monitoring of existing portfolio companies, and he provides input on portfolio management and construction. Prior to joining SouthernSun, Mr. Cross was an officer of Cummins, Inc. and responsible for leading one of Cummins’ business units. He has global experience in Sales, Marketing, Finance, Accounting, Logistics, Operations and General Management. Mr. Cross received his B.S. from Vanderbilt University and an M.B.A. from Vanderbilt’s Owen School with concentrations in Finance, Accounting and Management Information Systems. He has also passed the CPA exam. Mr. Cross serves on the Board of the Neighborhood Christian Center.
MICHAEL MCNAMARA
Senior Trader & Principal
Mr. McNamara joined SouthernSun in 2015 as the Senior Trader. His primary responsibilities include trading, portfolio administration, and assisting with various operational procedures. Prior to joining SouthernSun, he served as a Sales Trader and Managing Director of Equity Capital Markets with Imperial Capital, LLP. Prior to joining Imperial in 2012 , Mr. McNamara served as a Sales Trader and Senior Vice President of Equity Capital Markets with Jefferies & Co., Inc. Mr. McNamara holds a B.A. in Psychology from SUNY Albany.
TRACEY ROUSE
Director of Operations
Ms. Rouse joined SouthernSun in 2005. Her responsibilities include overseeing the day-to-day activities of the Operations Team such as settling trades, performing portfolio accounting and processing corporate actions. Prior to joining SouthernSun, Tracey worked as a Senior Consultant at New York Life Investment Management LLC. There she worked in back-office support and reconciliation of Global Equity, Bonds, Mortgage Back Securities & Repo’s. Tracey also spent 5 years at Axiom International Investors, LLC., where she was an Assistant Manager to the Director of Operations. She holds a B.A. in Music/Education, cum laude, from Virginia Union University.
“If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.”
TRACY DEANDREA
Director of Client Services
Ms. DeAndrea joined SouthernSun in 2023. She serves as the Director of Client Services with responsibilities that include supporting the business development and client relations efforts of the firm. Ms. DeAndrea joins SouthernSun with over 20 years of investment industry experience, primarily working in an institutional client relationship management capacity, with experience from prior roles at New York Digital Investment Group (NYDIG), Ducenta Squared Asset Management, Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, and Analytic Investors.
TREAD THOMPSON
Portfolio Manager & Principal
Mr. Thompson joined SouthernSun in 2014. His responsibilities include the research and analysis of investment opportunities and monitoring of existing portfolio companies, and he provides input on portfolio management and construction. Prior to joining SouthernSun, Mr. Thompson was an analyst at Mercer Capital, where he determined valuations for businesses in a wide variety of industries and conducted related industry research. Mr. Thompson graduated from Vanderbilt University with a B.A. in History and subsequently received his M.S. in Accounting from Rhodes College. He is also a licensed CPA.
“Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will never die, but long after we are gone be a living thing, asserting itself with ever growing insistency.”
TUCKER DAVIS
Institutional Sales
Mr. Davis joined SouthernSun in 2012. He serves as an Institutional Relationship Manager. His responsibilities include business development, client service, and marketing for SouthernSun. Prior to joining the firm, he worked for a non-profit in various roles including business development, fundraising, and project management. Mr. Davis also spent several years as an associate with LRK Architects within its Commercial Architecture and Planning Studios. He received his B.S. in Environmental Design from Auburn University and his Masters in City and Regional Planning from the University of Memphis. He holds Series 7 and 63 licenses with FINRA.
WILLIAM HALLIDAY
Chief Compliance Officer & Principal
Mr. Halliday rejoined SouthernSun in 2006 having previously been with the firm from 1991 to 1999. He serves as the firm’s Chief Compliance Officer. Prior to SouthernSun, Mr. Halliday served as Partner/President of Breakaway Athletics LLC. He received his B.S. in Finance from The University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1986, and a Graduate Certificate in Theology from Covenant Theological Seminary in 1999. Mr. Halliday serves on the board of the Robert M. Metcalf Symposium and the New Ballet Ensemble & School. He is an Elder at Redeemer Presbyterian Church, Memphis.
