Clay brings over 40 years of extensive financial leadership experience to Brilliant. Since 1998, he has held CFO positions across a diverse array of high-growth businesses spanning various industries, including telecommunications, software, logistics, industrial services and healthcare.
Prior to his recent retirement, Clay held successive CFO roles within private equity-sponsored companies. Throughout this period, he played integral roles in facilitating PE-to-PE sale transactions, driving significant value creation for shareholders. His tenure was marked by a steadfast commitment to assembling world-class finance and accounting teams and refining operational processes. Clay’s expertise encompasses a substantial volume of mergers and acquisitions, with a foundational background in Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) and M&A roles. Leveraging this expertise, he transitioned seamlessly into overseas roles with large public telecom firms before assuming CFO positions within PE-backed mid-market enterprises. Clay maintains an active engagement in financial leadership capacities and presently serves on the Board of Directors for a portfolio company under the auspices of a blue-chip PE firm.
Educationally, Clay holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and an MBA in Finance and Accounting, both from Vanderbilt University. Additionally, he is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). Clay resides in Atlanta with his wife, who is also an alumna of Vanderbilt University. They are proud of their daughter, who resides in Atlanta and pursues a career in the healthcare industry. During his leisure time, Clay enjoys fly fishing, golf and traveling with his family.