Palm Tree Appoints John Cunningham as Senior Managing Director

30-year M&A veteran to support client expansion, leadership development, and execution quality

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Palm Tree LLC, a single-source value creation partner to private equity, has announced that John Cunningham has joined the firm as Senior Managing Director. In this role, Mr. Cunningham will focus on the development of client service leaders and senior talent, and will support the CEO and other senior leaders with strategic business development and deepening of client relationships.

Why it matters

This appointment reflects Palm Tree's continued investment in senior leadership to support client outcomes, strengthen internal mentorship, and deliver execution-focused solutions for private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies.

The details

John Cunningham brings more than 30 years of experience advising private equity sponsors and corporate clients on complex M&A transactions. Over the course of his career, he has supported more than 500 transactions globally, spanning buy-side and sell-side diligence, carve-outs, cross-border deals, and financial and operational diagnostics across a wide range of industries.

  • John Cunningham joined Palm Tree as Senior Managing Director on February 10, 2026.

The players

Palm Tree LLC

A single-source value creation partner to private equity, founded in 2010.

John Cunningham

A 30-year M&A veteran who has joined Palm Tree as Senior Managing Director.

Pardis Nasseri

The Founder and CEO of Palm Tree.

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What they’re saying

“John is someone I've known and worked with extensively for more than two decades. He brings tremendous experience, sound judgment, and a deep understanding of what private equity clients need at every stage of the deal lifecycle. We are fortunate to have him join our leadership team as we continue to raise the bar on quality, invest in our people, and double down on private equity value creation.”

— Pardis Nasseri, Founder and CEO of Palm Tree (PRNewswire)

“Palm Tree's integrated model and focus on private equity value creation strongly align with how I've worked throughout my career. I'm excited to contribute my experience to help clients create value through high-quality execution and navigate complex transactions with clarity and confidence.”

— John Cunningham, Senior Managing Director at Palm Tree (PRNewswire)

The takeaway

This appointment underscores Palm Tree's commitment to strengthening its senior leadership team and delivering high-quality, execution-focused solutions to private equity clients as they navigate complex transactions and value creation initiatives.