TSG Consumer Partners Announces Promotions

TSG Consumer Partners (“TSG”), a leading private equity firm, today announced the promotions of Beth Pickens to Managing Director (London); Irena Blind to Managing Director, Business Development (New York); Adam Hemmer to Principal (San Francisco); and Alec Fogarty and Lea Zhang to Vice President (San Francisco).

TSG’s personnel promotions follow a year of significant investment and exit activity with both well-established and earlier-stage businesses and brands in consumer-facing industries. In 2020, TSG successfully exited from five partner companies including Privé Revaux, Pabst Brewing Company, Radio Systems, REVOLVE and SweetWater Brewing Company. TSG also completed two platform investments in Pathway Vet Alliance and American Technologies (ATI), and participated in three later stage financings, including Robinhood, Revolut and Scopely.

“We are proud to recognize the hard work and talents of these team members, who have provided tremendous value for our partner companies and investors,” said Chuck Esserman, Founder and CEO of TSG. “Each individual has made meaningful contributions to the growth of our portfolio and success as a firm over the course of 2020 and their respective careers at TSG. We look forward to their increased leadership and contributions as we continue to build iconic, best-in-class brands alongside founders and management teams.”

Founded in 1987, TSG was one of the pioneers of sector focused investing and one of the first private equity funds to invest solely in consumer companies. With over $10 billion in assets under management, TSG has a proven track record of growing best-in-class consumer brands and businesses and is also unique in the number of women in its senior ranks and throughout the firm – 50% overall – driven by a belief in the value of diverse perspectives across the firm.

Beth Pickens joined TSG in 2019 in the firm’s London office. Ms. Pickens joined TSG with nearly two decades of investment banking experience, most recently as Managing Director and head of European consumer banking at William Blair in London, focusing on successful exits and financings for global growth consumer companies across brands, technologies and channels. She also founded William Blair’s European consumer practice. Ms. Pickens received a MBA from the University of Chicago and a BS in Finance from the University of Illinois.

Irena Blind focuses on business development and originating new investment opportunities, having joined the firm in 2016. Before joining TSG, Ms. Blind was an investment banker covering branded consumer goods, e-commerce and specialty retail, with roles including Senior Vice President at Raymond James and Vice President at Stephens Inc. Ms. Blind graduated as a Regent Scholar from Walter A. Haas School of Business at University of California at UC Berkeley, with a BS in Business Administration and a concentration in International Business, Finance and Accounting.

Adam Hemmer has been involved in the due diligence and structuring of new investment opportunities since joining the firm in 2015. Prior to joining TSG, Mr. Hemmer was a consultant at Kurt Salmon, where he advised private equity and consumer products clients on due diligence and strategy. He graduated with a BA in Economics from Stanford University.

Alec Fogarty joined TSG in 2017 and has worked on the due diligence of new investments and supporting the growth of TSG’s partner companies. Before joining TSG, Mr. Fogarty was with Goldman Sachs in the Investment Banking Division, working with consumer and retail clients across a variety of transactions including mergers and acquisitions as well as debt and equity financings. He graduated Cum Laude with a BBA in Finance and Economics from the University of Notre Dame.

Lea Zhang joined TSG in 2017. She is involved in the due diligence of new investments and working with partner companies. Prior to joining TSG, Ms. Zhang was a consultant at McKinsey & Company, where she advised consumer, retail and e-commerce clients on digital marketing, customer lifecycle management and corporate strategy. Ms. Zhang graduated with a BA in Economics and MS in Management Science & Engineering from Stanford University.

About TSG Consumer Partners

TSG Consumer Partners, LLC is a leading private equity firm that partners with founders and management teams to build and accelerate growth for best-in-class consumer-facing businesses. Since its founding in 1987, TSG has been an active investor in the food, beverage, restaurant, fitness, beauty, personal care, household, apparel & accessories, and e-commerce sectors. Representative past and present partner companies include Backcountry, BrewDog, Canyon Bicycles, Duckhorn Wine Company, Dutch Bros, e.l.f. Cosmetics, IT Cosmetics, Planet Fitness, popchips, Power Stop, REVOLVE, Smashbox Cosmetics, Stumptown, thinkThin and vitaminwater. For more information, visit tsgconsumer.com.

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