Department of Accounting and Information Systems Alumnus of the Year: Mark Blaufuss

Mark Blaufuss (B.A. Accounting ’90)

After a brief hiatus due to the pandemic, the Department of Accounting and Information Systems has resumed the tradition of naming an alumnus of the year. This year, the department is pleased to recognize Mark Blaufuss (B.A. Accounting ’90), who has played a significant role in supporting the department for many years, including as a member and chair of its External Advisory Board.

He has provided invaluable support to the transaction services initiative and served as co-instructor of the capstone course in the Transaction Services track in the department’s M.S. in Accounting program. His effort and enthusiasm in delivering such a meaningful experience for our students was appreciated, and we are confident that our students would applaud the department’s choice!

“I am humbled to receive the honor of being named Alumnus of the Year,” Blaufuss said. “I have been passionate about Michigan State University and our business school since the day I set foot on campus as a freshman many years ago. I will use this honor to further propel our Transaction Services track and overall programs at MSU.”

Blaufuss is currently the managing director of Green & White Advisory, a consulting firm specializing in complex business challenges including mergers and acquisitions, corporate strategy and operational execution. He also serves as an operating executive for the Carlyle Group, a large multinational private equity fund, as well as the audit committee chair and board member for Jason Group, Old World Industries and United Road Services.

He was formerly the chief financial officer of Metaldyne Performance Group, a $3 billion light vehicle supplier. During his tenure there, Blaufuss was instrumental in forming the company through the merger of three $1 billion metal-forming businesses (HHI, Metaldyne and Grede), refinancing the combined entity, executing its initial public offering in December 2014 and ultimately selling the company to American Axle & Manufacturing, returning nearly $1 billion to MPG’s investors.

Prior to MPG, Blaufuss worked extensively with private equity–owned manufacturing and distribution businesses, including chief financial officer positions at Metaldyne, United Components Inc. and Axletech International, helping to guide all three businesses through growth and successful ownership transition. He also worked as director of consulting firm AlixPartners, corporate controller of JPE and manager at PriceWaterhouseCoopers.