Guardian Capital Partners has appointed Damien J Gresko as a Vice President. Gresko has both deal and strategic operating experiences in public and private markets. In addition to deep consumer products and manufacturing expertise, Gresko has substantial experience across a diverse set of industries and circumstances, leading successful outcomes through all phases of an investment lifecycle, from end-to-end transaction execution through portfolio management and exit.
Most recently, Gresko led a variety of strategic initiatives to deliver growth, cost savings, and capabilities for The Hershey Company, an USD8 billion global consumer company and US market leader in snacking. While at Hershey, Gresko developed and implemented key transformation programs, contributing to top-quartile financial performance and enabling new operating models, production and process innovation, and reinvestment in the future of the business.
Previously, Gresko worked for Graham Partners, a middle market private equity firm focused on industrial technology and advanced manufacturing businesses, as both an investor and operating partner. During this time, he evaluated investment opportunities and partnered with portfolio company management teams, serving as a Board Director or Observer at Henry Company and SP Industries. Gresko began his career as an investment banking analyst at Raymond James & Associates, Inc, advising real estate companies on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and capital raising activities through the Great Recession period.
