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Jon Chait brings more than three decades of real-world business experience to the classroom — experience that most students simply won't find in a traditional academic setting. Before joining the University of Kentucky faculty in 2017, Mr. Chait spent his career at the intersection of law, finance and executive leadership. He began as a financial transactions attorney — handling restructurings, public offerings, antitrust matters, and mergers and acquisitions — before moving into senior executive roles at a major U.S. public company, ultimately serving as CFO and COO-International across 60 countries. His hands-on achievements include obtaining the firm's first-ever credit rating (A+/A1), issuing public debt, negotiating multiple bank debt agreements, negotiating collective bargaining agreements across Europe and launching operations in Asia and Europe. Mr. Chait left corporate employment to found a software startup company which was ultimately sold to a publicly traded UK firm and Mr. Chait became CEO of the combined entity which was listed on the London Stock Exchange. A few years later, He was recruited to lead the 100% spin-off of a NASDAQ-listed company (Hudson Inc.) from Monster Inc. and completed two follow-on public equity offerings. After 11 years as Hudson's CEO, he retired and transitioned into venture capital and private equity consulting, working with Blackstone, Lazard, KKR and others and continues to engage with angel investment groups in Chicago and Lexington. At UK, Mr. Chait teaches corporate finance, investments, mergers and acquisitions, and the student managed investment fund. He was honored with the Teaching Excellence Award in Spring 2026.
