Executive Team

Matthew D. Eitner
Matthew D. EitnerChief Executive Officer

Matthew Eitner serves as Chief Executive Officer at Laidlaw & Company (UK) Ltd. He joined the firm in 2010 and was named CEO in April 2011. Prior to Laidlaw, Mr. Eitner served as Managing Director of the private client group at Aegis Capital Corp., a private investment firm. Before Aegis Capital, Mr. Eitner was a Vice President at Casimir Capital, a boutique investment bank. Mr. Eitner’s experience includes his role as an equities trader at NDB Capital Markets, now Deutsche Bank, and as an Associate at International Strategy & Investment.

Outside of the Firm, Mr. Eitner is involved in a number of charitable organizations, including Covenant House and Good Counsel Homes. Mr. Eitner is also a founding member of the Board of Trustees of Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, NJ. Don Bosco Prep is a private, Catholic institution, administered by the Salesians of St. John Bosco.

Matt Eitner is also a founding member of the Bergen County, New Jersey Chapter of Legatus, the world’s only membership organization for Catholic senior-level, legal, and medical executives and CEOs and their spouses.

James P. Ahern
James P. AhernManaging Partner

James Ahern presently serves as Laidlaw & Company UK Managing Partner, and Founder of Laidlaw Venture Partners.

Jim brings over 15 years’ of experience to the Laidlaw Ventures team. His experience is directly relevant in capital formation, venture capital, investment banking and equity capital markets.

Jim has spearheaded relationships with innovation laboratories at universities that has allowed for the incubation of multiple companies in the LVP Portfolio. He has also worked with entrepreneurs as a funding and advisory partner to move therapeutics, medical technologies, and other assets forward.

Jim proudly served as the firms head of capital markets, where he is credited with establishing a highly recognized quality fundamental health care brand. With a devotion to brand cognizance, Laidlaw Capital Markets is recognized today as a fundamental health care investment bank providing targeted outreach to relevant health care centric investors. During his tenure, Jim led or played an integral role in providing its clients with over 6 Billion dollars in capital.

Jim currently serves on the board of directors of Algorithm Sciences, Voltron Therapeutics, PD Theranostics, and Aerwave Medical Technologies. In addition, JIM proudly serves on the board of overseers of the Massachusetts bay big brothers big sisters foundation. Jim is Vice Chair of the annual BBBS golf outing, an event which brings in approximately 1 million dollars annually for the foundation. He’s also a proud supporter of his alma mater, The Northfield Mount Hermon School, where he serves as Chairman of the Basketball Academic Center of Excellence.

John W. Coolong
John W. CoolongChief Compliance Officer, Chief Financial Officer

John Coolong joined Laidlaw in May 2011 as Chief Financial Officer. Prior to Laidlaw, Mr. Coolong was Director of Finance at AeropostaleInc, a publicly traded retail company with $2.0 billion in annual Sales. Between 2001-2006, Mr. Coolong was Controller of ElieTahari LTD and the Controller H&M. Mr. Coolong has also worked in the publishing and medical education industries. Mr. Coolong is a Certified Public Accountant and holds Series 7, Series 63, Series 27 and Series 24 Securities License.
Richard J. Calhoun Jr.
Richard J. Calhoun Jr.Chief Executive Officer, Laidlaw Wealth Management
Chief Executive Officer, Naples Wealth Planning

Mr. Calhoun is the Chief Executive Offer of Laidlaw Wealth Management and Naples Wealth Planning – wholly owned subsidiaries of Laidlaw Holdings. Previously Mr. Calhoun was the President of a Private Investment Boutique firm in MD/DC Metro market and prior to that was a Managing Director with Well Fargo Advisors Financial Network (FiNet), the Independent Advisor Channel of Wells Fargo Advisors. Mr. Calhoun has also held leadership roles with Smith Barney and Legg Mason. He began his career as a Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch.

Mr. Calhoun at different times in his career has had responsibility for Practice Management, Business Development, Recruiting, Products & Services and M&A. In addition, he has been a Financial Advisor, Sales Manager, Branch Manager, Regional Director, Senior Leader and most recently President and equity partner of a private investment management company.

Mr. Calhoun who is married with three children enjoys coaching youth athletics and is also the former President of the Montgomery Township Baseball Softball Association. In addition, he is active with both his alma mater, Cornell University (Ithaca, NY) and high school, LaSalle College High School (Wyndmoor,PA) and is a member of the Maxwell Football Club’s Board of Directors.