Micro-market, private equity firm Evolution Capital Partners has appointed Gene Marino to its team as a partner. Effective 1 March, Marino will open Evolution’s Chicago office, where he will focus on sourcing new investment opportunities, join the board of existing Evolution portfolio companies and continue to build the Evolution brand in the Chicago region.
"Hiring Gene and opening a Chicago office will reinforce our presence in the Chicago market, as we already have several portfolio companies there," says Jeffrey Kadlic, a Managing Partner at Evolution.
Prior to joining, Marino was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Innerpac, Inc, a niche manufacturer of specialty packaging products, a portfolio company of Evolution. Marino guided Innerpac’s growth strategy through the economic recessions of 2009 and 2002, improving EBITDA and revenue growth throughout his tenure. Marino guided the successful exit for Evolution, culminating in the sale of Innerpac to Rock-Tenn in August of 2010. He has experience in the successful development, implementation and execution of a strategic plan in a multiple site operating entity with over 400 employees. Marino also brings extensive experience operating a private equity owned business with a successful realisation for its investors.
"We are very excited to welcome Gene to the team," says Kadlic. "His experience navigating the complexities of transforming a regional business into a national competitor is very relevant to Evolution’s growth equity strategy and enhances the value proposition to our portfolio company CEOs and Limited Partners."
Marino says: "I am excited to join a growing private equity firm with a passion for building small businesses. This is an ideal situation for me to partner with other CEOs confronting the same challenges growing their businesses that we experienced growing Innerpac. The fit with Evolution is ideal. As partners in Innerpac for five years, we have a great history working together.”
