Christopher Thorne

Chris Thorne is an authority on Systems Thinking, Private Equity Finance, and Negotiation. He is an experienced global CEO, high-tech entrepreneur, noted investor, and McKinsey alum who has served leadership roles in a number of industries. He has applied his approach to collaborative problem-solving throughout a remarkable career in business-building and deal-making, including some of the most creative deals in the history of their category. Chris is Founder, Chairman and CEO of Broadline Capital, the global alternative investment firm. Founded more than 20 years ago, Broadline has focused primarily on investing in category leaders and category creators in highly-charged industries. 

Previously, Chris served leadership roles at McKinsey & Company, the global strategic consultancy. While there, he managed numerous high-impact strategic and operational programs for Fortune 500 companies. After excelling there, he left the firm to pursue his entrepreneurial vision. He launched and developed one of the world’s first profitable Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) business models. As its founder, chairman and CEO, he created fundamental advances in inter-enterprise solutions and executed a market consolidation strategy. The resulting company successfully sold in an all-cash transaction to Roper Technologies (NASDAQ: ROP) for more than half a billion dollars.

Chris was appointed to the Harvard Faculty in 2021 to share in the classroom what he has learned from three decades of deal-making and business-building. Inducted into the state bar at the Ohio Supreme Court in 1995, he has been recognized in the legal profession with the highest possible rating (10.0) over consecutive years by a global rating and review system. 

Chris received his Bachelor’s degree from Harvard University, graduating Magna Cum Laude. He received his Doctor of Law (J.D.) from Harvard Law School, graduating with honors. He received his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, receiving final-year honors. While a student here, he initiated positive changes across campus as president of the university-wide student government, founder of the Harvard Negotiation Law Review, and athlete who competed in three intercollegiate sports.