Ryan Gross

About:

Ryan joined Aurora in 2026 as a Managing Director for its Michigan and greater Midwest region with more than 12 years of experience in accounting, finance and restructuring.

He specializes in providing turnaround and restructuring support services to distressed and underperforming companies and municipalities, as well as advising boards, management, and creditors.

Previously:

Prior to joining Aurora, Ryan was with a Turnaround and Restructuring Advisory firm leading the Michigan markets and advising on performing and underperforming clients in a variety of industries including healthcare, manufacturing, and tier 1 and 2 automotive suppliers both in- and out-of-court restructurings.

Roles:

Ryan has served as interim chief financial officer (CFO), interim chief operating officer (COO), Director of Finance, Controller, Treasurer, Financial Advisor (in and out of court), and Deputy CRO

Industry Experience:

Ryan has worked for clients in Private Equity, Automotive, Manufacturing Apparel, Retail and Consumer Products, Healthcare, Pharmaceutical, Food and Beverage, Agriculture, Logistics, Transportation, Warehouse and Distribution, Industrials, B2B, Financial Services Industries, Education/Government/Municipal, and Print and Digital Media,

Specialties:

Ryan specializes in turnaround and crisis management, profit enhancement, mergers & acquisitions, business valuation, raising of debt/equity capital, insolvency/bankruptcy matters, as well as both in and out of court liquidations and restructurings.

Education/Affiliations/Awards:

Ryan received his Bachelor of Science (Accounting) and his MBA (Business Finance) from John Carroll University. He is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and serves on the Board of the Orchard Lake Schools, TMA Detroit, TMA Detroit NextGen (Past President 2022-2024). He is member of the Turnaround Management Association (TMA), Secured Finance Network (SFnet). In the recent past Ryan was awarded the 2023 DBusiness Magazine ‘30 In Their Thirties’ award in 2024, 2022 TMA NextGen Award in 2023, 2022 ABF Journal Next Gen Icon in 2022.

Home Base:

Ryan and his family reside in the Metro Detroit area of Southeastern Michigan

What do you like most about Aurora?

What stands out most to me about Auroa is the culture and the people. The team is made up of talented, thoughtful professionals who lead with humility and strong character. Everyone is willing to step in and contribute wherever needed, and there’s a genuine culture of collaboration and support. People freely share knowledge, coach one another, and remain open to learning themselves. It creates an environment built on trust, respect, and a collective drive to keep improving.

How did you get involved within this Industry?

I began my career as a CPA at a Big Four accountancy firm, conducting audits for middle-market companies across multiple industries. Although the role offered broad exposure to different businesses, it didn’t allow me to advise companies that were struggling. My father, a turnaround attorney, encouraged me to consider the turnaround industry, where I could apply my financial background in a more impactful way. The chance to work in complex, fast-moving situations and help companies stabilize and improve ultimately led me down that path.

What have been some of your more important or gratifying engagements?

What I find most rewarding is helping underperforming companies stabilize and regain momentum. In one engagement, a manufacturing company began struggling after being acquired by a buyer who didn’t fully understand the business or its specialized industry. When the prior leadership team left, the company quickly lost direction.

I stepped in as advisor and CFO to help stabilize the organization, improve financial visibility, and work through creditor obligations. Once the business was back on solid footing, we were able to position it for a successful sale to a strategic buyer with deep industry expertise.

The outcome preserved jobs and placed the company with an owner who could support its long-term success, which made the work especially meaningful.

For Someone starting out in the industry, what advice would you give?

Turnaround work is exciting, fast-paced, and occasionally a bit chaotic. The best advice I can give is to show up with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn. Be adaptable and open to adjusting your working style based on the environment and the people around you.

Early on, it’s important to be a sponge. Ask questions, observe closely, and learn from the experience of others. Every engagement is different, but the lessons you take from each one start to build over time. Even with that experience, new challenges will always arise, so maintaining flexibility and an open mindset is key.

 What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have outside of work?

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my wife, Ellen, and our three boys, Theo, Colin, and Lyle, who definitely keep things lively. Family time is very important to me, whether we’re simply spending time together at home or getting away for a trip.

I’m also a big fan of the outdoors. I enjoy golfing and snow skiing when I can, and one of my favorite places to unwind is our family cottage in Northern Michigan. It’s a great place to relax, unplug, and spend quality time with family.