Douglas Palmer, Jr. (“DJ”)
A M E R I C A S
RISING 
DEALMAKER
A W A R D S
Douglas Palmer, Jr. (“DJ”)
Managing Director
Ascend Capital Group
What led you to a career in the deal-making industry?
Deal-making is the perfect marriage between quantitative and qualitative skills, and when I came to this realization early in my career that there’s a unique art to excelling in this industry, I decided to embark on a life-long journey of becoming a great dealmaker.
Memorable deal I worked on... why?
Advising Insight Partners on its acquisition of Property Brands. I learned more in a 90-day period working on that transaction than an entire year – it shaped me as banker and helped form a deeper level of analytical rigor and appreciate for tactful negotiation.
Most enjoy about my career...
No two deals are the same, which makes every transaction unique. I love the strategic creativity involved in helping our clients simplify complex situations and navigate the myriad of moving pieces in a transaction. Every deal requires enormous discipline and rigor, and I enjoy working hand-in-hand with our clients to make 1 + 1 = 5.
Profile:
DJ has 15 years of experience in global M&A, corporate strategy, private equity, and investment banking. He has advised on over $3 billion in deal volume across software, technology, and services sectors. His deep M&A expertise is a result of having worked with a diverse set of organizations—from start-ups and family-owned businesses to large publicly traded organizations and global private equity funds. Prior to Ascend, he worked for District Capital Partners, Evergreen Advisors, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Deloitte. He is a member of the Forbes Finance Council and University Club of Washington, DC.
Education: MBA from the University of Baltimore and Towson University, and BS in Finance from Longwood University.
