Mahesh Rao is dedicated to advising and preparing business owners for a successful ownership transition. As a Senior Business Transition Strategist, he is part of a national team that works hand-in-hand with local planners to develop a comprehensive evaluation of the available options for the owners of a business, leading to the creation of a transition plan.

Prior to his current role, Mahesh served as a Managing Director of Business Sales & Advisory, where he was responsible for advising companies in connection with a possible sale, merger or acquisition. Mahesh has over 18 years of financial advisory experience at Wells Fargo, including 13 years in investment banking and 4 years in business valuation and management of closely-held business interests in trusts and estates.

Prior to joining Wells Fargo, Mahesh earned a Master of Business Administration from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, as well as undergraduate and graduate degrees in Aerospace Engineering from N.C. State University. He also worked as a Senior Engineer for Pratt & Whitney, a United Technologies company.

Mahesh has been awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, and is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society of North Carolina.