John Klassen

John Klassen joined LHV in October of 2021 as their CFO. He brings a background in construction and commercial banking to the team.

A 1987 graduate of the Virginia Military Institute with degree in Economics. Upon graduation he was commissioned and served in the US Army as an Air Defense Officer from 1987 until 1992.

In 25 years in banking John specialized in helping family-owned businesses with their banking Over time he realized the biggest threat to these businesses was the ability of the senior owner to transition out of the business aka retire.

Experience:

• Some of his highlights were the transition of ownership of small 114-year-old ship building operation from the father two two sons creating the 7th generation in the business.
• Transitioning his father out of his construction business to retirement through the sale of business and real estate assets that limited his tax liability upon the sale.
• Transitioned ownership of a family partnership from one brother to the other after the majority brother was murdered while on vacation.
• Transitioned a beer brewing operation to a new qualified owner without operational interruption after the premature death of its owner.
• Creating a succession and business continuity plan for his current employer LHV Precast.