Mike Ye is an M&A and corporate development executive who has spent more than
two decades leading acquisitions, divestitures, strategic investments, and capital
restructuring across media, technology, retail, healthcare, and asset management.
As Vice President of Strategic Planning & Acquisitions at Penske Media
Corporation, he led end-to-end execution of enterprise transactions —
sourcing, diligence, valuation, structuring, negotiation, and integration — across
a portfolio that included Rolling Stone, Billboard,
SXSW, The Hollywood Reporter,
Dick Clark Productions, and Robb Report.
He also led the strategic divestitures of HollywoodLife,
BGR, and TVLine, and supported investment
initiatives in Vox Media and other digital platforms.
Prior to Penske, he served as Director of Corporate Development &
Finance at L Brands, where he led the $778M divestiture of
Express, supported the $628M acquisition of La Senza,
and helped execute a $2.5B capital restructuring. At
Intel Capital, he managed the portfolio exit program during a
period when the fund monetized $5B+ across 500+ companies.
He holds an MBA in Strategic Finance from Cornell University's Johnson
Graduate School of Management and a BA in Economics from UCLA.
He is fluent in Mandarin.
He is now the founder of exmxc.ai, an intelligence institution
focused on how AI systems reshape institutional positioning, capital allocation,
and competitive strategy — and TrailGenic, an AI-native longevity
methodology platform.
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Buy-Side (Media)
Rolling Stone, Billboard, SXSW, The Hollywood Reporter, Dick Clark Productions, Robb Report, Life Is Beautiful Festival
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Sell-Side (Media)
HollywoodLife, BGR, TVLine
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Strategic Investments
Vox Media, SheKnows Media, LDJ Productions, Music Business Worldwide
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Buy-Side (Retail)
La Senza — $628M acquisition (L Brands)
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Sell-Side (Retail)
Express — $778M divestiture (L Brands)
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Capital Restructuring
$2.5B recapitalization — L Brands
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Portfolio Exits
Intel Capital exit program — $5B+ monetized across 500+ companies
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Quantitative Capital
Mellon Capital Management — Vanguard Russell 2000 Value Fund, S&P 500 Index Plus Fund
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2016 – 2025
Vice President, Strategic Planning & Acquisitions
Penske Media Corporation — Los Angeles, CA
Led acquisitions, divestitures, and strategic investments across global media and experiential platforms.
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2014 – 2016
Director, Financial Operations
Surgical Care Affiliates — Los Angeles, CA
Oversaw financial operations for 10+ ambulatory surgical centers. P&L management, expansion support, and M&A modeling.
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2006 – 2013
Director, Corporate Development & Finance
L Brands (Limited Brands) — New York, NY
Corporate development, strategic finance, and FP&A. Led $778M divestiture of Express, supported $628M acquisition of La Senza and $2.5B capital restructuring.
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Earlier
Senior Associate, Exits & Strategic Investments
Intel Capital
Portfolio exit program across 500+ companies.
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Earlier
Portfolio Manager, Global Index & Hedge Strategies
Mellon Capital Management
Index fund management including Vanguard Russell 2000 Value Fund and S&P 500 Index Plus Fund.
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MBA, Strategic Finance
Cornell University — Johnson Graduate School of Management
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BA, Economics
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Advisory Services
Exit Desk
$499 flat fee
Structured exit analysis and valuation report for business owners considering a sale or divestiture.
Learn more →
Silver Desk
$1,999 advisory
Hands-on advisory for business owners navigating an active sale, divestiture, or strategic transaction.
Coming soon