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In Memoriam, Jim Malone, 1942-2021, Founding Partner and Chairman Emeritus

In life, and in business, there are a few select individuals where it’s not what they do, but who they are. There will ever only be one Jim Malone. Today I feel as if I’ve lost three people: a business partner, a friend, a fatherly mentor.

It is with great sadness and loss that I share that the founding partner of QORVAL, James R. “Jim” Malone, passed away yesterday after a valiant battle with cancer, a fight which, in true Jim fashion, he fought with fervor and passion, defied all the odds and beat everyone’s expectations.

Jim was a native of Kokomo, Indiana, and was a resident of Naples, Florida.  Considered one of the greats of turning businesses around, transforming organizations, and doing it with humility, caring, compassion, fierce work ethic, and his famous core values (integrity, profit, growth, and fun) Jim’s lifetime accomplishments are too numerous to summarize here – but Jim was best known for serving as CEO of six Fortune 500 companies in six industries.

Jim founded Qorval 25 years ago to help fix, grow and transform businesses and spearheaded hundreds of global and domestic turnarounds, reorganizations, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and strategic alliances.

Jim saved thousands of jobs and helped countless people. He was firm, but fair, and always the hardest working person at the table.

During his career, in addition to being called on by US Presidents, world leaders, board chairmen, congress, governors, and civic and community leaders for his sage counsel,  Jim was also a member of the Board of Directors of NYSE-listed Ametek, Inc. (AME) and Regions Financial Corporation (RF).

Jim was named by Governor Jeb Bush to serve as Chairman of the Board of Governors for the nations’ third largest underwriter of property insurance, Citizens Property Insurance Corporation of Florida, spearheading its reorganization and stabilizing the insurance industry.

Jim was also the Chairman and co-founder of Florida-based private equity firm Boyne Capital. Jim was a trustee and board member of the United Nations Business Council for 22 years, a member of The Florida Council of 100, and served many civic and community organizations throughout his career and was one of the founders in 2001 of the Naples Winter Wine Festival which has raised in excess of $220 million for children’s charities.

Jim received his BS degree from Indiana University and was a graduate of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management Institute in International Management.  Jim leaves his wonderful wife Linda, and a beautiful family – daughters Deanna (DeDe) and Lisa, and sons Gabe and Zack, and several grandchildren.  Further information about Jim’s celebration of life will be forthcoming.

Jim shared a wonderful quote with me one time, an excerpt from the poem “Ithaka” by Greek poet Constantine Cavafy, inspired by Homer’s Odyssey, a tale of the legendary journey of Ulysses (Odysseus), which reads:

“As you set out for Ithaka, hope the voyage is a long one… full of adventures, full of discovery, full of good friends.”

Indeed, Jim.  Godspeed, my friend. You will be missed.