The McFarland Group, an Omaha-based advisory firm specializing in ownership transitions for closely held businesses, has appointed John Bruckner as managing partner. The move formalizes a role Bruckner has held in practice for several years, according to the firm. Bruckner has led the firm's M&A advisory practice for the past four years and has worked alongside founder Byron McFarland for more than a decade. In his expanded role, he will carry responsibility for the firm's operations and strategic direction in addition to his client-facing work.
The appointment signals continuity rather than a change in direction. Byron McFarland, who founded the firm, described the title as a reflection of how the group already functions. "John has been carrying this weight for some time, and the title reflects the work rather than announces a change in it," McFarland said. "My job has always been to help owners slow the moment down and think clearly. That continues, with a partner steering the firm who holds the same standard."
Bruckner advises owners of closely held businesses through the process of selling, with an emphasis on preparation and positioning that begins well before any transaction is underway. He brings legal training and transactional experience to the structural questions that most directly affect what an owner walks away with: valuation, deal terms, and the architecture of the agreement itself. His practice is concentrated in the lower middle market, where owners are frequently navigating a sale for the first and only time.
Bruckner described his priority as preserving the firm's approach as its reach expands. "Most owners sell a business once. The decisions they make in that window shape everything that follows, and they deserve advisors who are not in a hurry," he said. "The work that matters happens long before a closing. That is what this firm was built to do, and it is what I intend to protect. I'm honored and excited for the opportunity to build on the foundation Byron created and help guide the firm into its next chapter. I have great respect for what he built and am committed to carrying that legacy forward together."
As an Omaha M&A advisor, The McFarland Group works with owners of closely held businesses across three service tracks: M&A advisory for sales to outside buyers, management buyouts for owners transferring the company to their leadership team, and performance equity plans designed to build value a buyer will pay for. Client engagements remain senior-led, and the appointment does not alter who owners work with on a day-to-day basis.
The leadership transition matters for business leaders because it ensures stability at a firm that has guided over $3 billion in business value through more than 200 ownership transitions over two decades. For owners considering a sale or transfer, the continuity suggests that the firm's emphasis on preparation and long-term positioning will remain central. The appointment also underscores a broader trend in the lower middle market: as a generation of founders approaches exit, advisory firms are increasingly formalizing leadership to handle complex ownership transitions. Bruckner's legal and transactional background may be particularly relevant as deal structures grow more sophisticated. More information is available at themcfarlandgroup.com.
