Murphy Business & Financial Corporation (MB&FC), North America’s leading, full-service business brokerage firm, today announced the appointment of Tom Coba as its new CEO. In this role, Coba, who has 30-plus years of franchise industry experience with the majority of them in top executive roles, leads MB&FC’s strategic growth, franchisee support, marketing programs and development of brokerage services.
The move comes three months following the mournful passing of Roger Murphy, founder, president and CEO of MB&FC, and a pioneering force in the business brokerage industry. Coba is carrying on the company’s rich tradition in the brokerage field.
“This was an incredibly important decision, and we couldn’t have made a more solid choice for the role of CEO,” said Mason Myers, acting CEO and principal of Greybull Stewardship, which first invested in MB&FC in 2014 and is now the majority owner of the company. “Tom’s experience in leading, building excellent organizations to serve franchisees, and creating significant value in franchise brands is an asset to the MB&FC family and we’re excited about what the future holds for us.”
Coba is committed to serving Murphy brokers effectively, and can draw upon many experiences building organizations to do just that. Most recently, Coba has consulted with a collection of mid-size franchise brands advising them on strategic growth through the development of company leadership, strategy, and capital investments. This included structuring mergers and acquisitions and consistently assessing key business valuation metrics.
Previously, Coba also held key leadership roles in growing global and national category leading franchise brands on a variety of levels, including mergers and acquisitions. Most notably, Coba was President and CEO of ServiceMaster Franchise Services Group, which included five nationally recognizable brands in commercial and residential services. He also held top leadership positions with Dunkin’ Brands and Subway. In his 20 years with Dunkin’ Brands, Coba managed large franchise territories and, as vice president, played a key role in better integrating the Baskin Robbins and Dunkin’ Donuts brands. Coba joined Subway in 2004 as Chief Operating Officer where he worked with Development Agents and franchisees to help the brand grow to 37,000 stores and nearly double its revenue with marketing initiatives such as launching the famous “$5 Foot-Long.”
“There is no doubt that Murphy Business & Financial Corporation is the market leader. I am honored to be appointed to the role and clearly recognize the responsibility I now have to lead,” said Coba, whose experience with ServiceMaster included structuring a successful initial public offering (IPO). “Together with the corporate office team and our talented franchisees and regional developers we will be focused on insuring all business strategies are effectively implemented to maximize profitability and create value for all stakeholders.”
With more than 180 offices in the United States and Canada, Murphy Business & Financial Corporation is North America’s leading, full-service business brokerage firm. Offering entrepreneurs both regional developer and unit franchisee operating models, the Murphy Business home office supports both groups and their agents with extensive training, along with initial and ongoing marketing efforts that leave Murphy Business owners to focus on the most important part of their business – spending more time with their clients.
For more information about Murphy Business & Financial Corporation and available franchise opportunities, please visit: www.murphyfranchise.com.
About Murphy Business & Financial Corporation LLC
Clearwater, Florida-based Murphy Business & Financial Corporation LLC is a full-service business brokerage firm facilitating business sales, purchases, consulting, valuations, mergers and acquisitions. Closing deals at a higher ratio than the business brokerage industry average, several accolades have been bestowed upon the company including being recognized as one of Franchise Business Review ‘s Top 50 Franchisee Satisfaction Award Winners for ten consecutive years.
About Greybull Stewardship
Greybull Stewardship exists to provide business owners and management teams an ideal equity investor, co-owner, and steward of their business. Greybull’s evergreen fund structure and flexible investment horizon is designed to align with the objectives of portfolio company co-owners and management. Greybull was founded in 2010 and has a portfolio of eight companies in software, education, franchising, and food and makes minority and control investments in growing, profitable companies in the lower middle market with between $1 to $3 million in free cash flow. For more information visit: http://greybullstewardship.com.
