Private equity firm Harvest Partners has appointed Michael JP Klein as an Advisor. Klein will support the firm in identifying and evaluating investment opportunities in the automotive aftermarket parts, distribution, services, and retail sectors.
Klein has more than 35 years of experience in the automotive aftermarket, including CEO roles with Armored Auto Group, IDQ Holdings (a manufacturer of automotive A/C products), and Murray’s Discount Auto Stores. He has a history of driving businesses and shareholder value creation through organic growth initiatives and acquisitions. Mr. Klein currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association and is slated to become Chairman later this year.
“Michael has an exceptional track record with both family and private equity-owned businesses in the automotive aftermarket, having been the CEO of three companies that generated significant returns for multiple owners. We are pleased to enter into a formal relationship with him,” says Michael DeFlorio, a Senior Managing Director of Harvest Partners.
“Given our recent success with Driven Brands, we are enthusiastic about pursuing new opportunities in the automotive aftermarket. We believe Michael’s experience, leadership, and vision make him the ideal partner for us,” adds Thomas Arenz, a Senior Managing Director of Harvest Partners.
Klein says: “I look forward to leveraging my experience and network towards a new endeavour and I am delighted to be teaming up with Harvest Partners. Harvest has a long history of partnering with executives and management teams to grow and improve middle market businesses and I am thrilled to be an integral part of their automotive aftermarket initiative.”
