MidOcean Partners (MidOcean), a middle market private equity firm focused on consumer and business services, has added it its private equity team.
David Kieselstein, current Executive Board member, has been appointed Chairman of the MidOcean Executive Board, while Steve Miller, who was previously Chairman, will continue as an active member of the MidOcean Executive Board.
Matt Rubel, an experienced retail and brand CEO and current Executive Chairman of MidOcean portfolio company KidKraft, has joined MidOcean’s Executive Board as Chairman of the Consumer Group, and Eric Roth, most recently a Managing Director and Head of the Consumer Retail group at Lazard Middle Market, has joined MidOcean as a Managing Director. Mr. Roth will assist in identifying investment opportunities in the consumer sector and working with existing portfolio companies to drive operating performance.
“A core tenet of MidOcean’s investment strategy is leveraging the topflight executive talent and operating experience of our Executive Board to drive transformative growth in our portfolio companies,” says Ted Virtue, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of MidOcean. “David is an accomplished executive and longtime partner of MidOcean, having served previously as CEO of former MidOcean portfolio company Penton. Steve continues to be an outstanding leader, helping strengthen our firm and investments. Matt has led many successful global brands, serving as CEO of Varsity Brands, Collective Brands and Cole Haan, and will provide valuable guidance to our current and future portfolio companies. We look forward to working with Matt and continuing to work closely with David and Steve for the benefit of our investors and portfolio companies as we continue to build the firm for future success.”
MidOcean’s Executive Board is comprised of senior executives who have experience running large companies within MidOcean private equity’s target sectors. These leading industry executives, who previously served as Chairpersons, CEOs and in other senior management positions with leading companies and government entities, provide operational expertise and unique insights, including in-depth knowledge of industry dynamics, competitive landscapes and trends that guide MidOcean’s private equity investment themes and value creation strategies.
The addition of Eric Roth, who brings nearly two decades of experience in the consumer space, demonstrates MidOcean’s continued commitment to building a deep, experienced private equity investment team which is now comprised of 17 investments professionals and supported by 20 Executive Board Members and 13 Management Affiliates.
“Eric is a seasoned and highly-respected executive and we welcome him to MidOcean,” says Virtue. “His expertise in advising consumer retail companies on M&A, corporate finance, and restructuring transactions will significantly benefit our existing portfolio companies, and we look forward to leveraging his deep channel expertise and relationships as we continue to source and execute deals in this attractive sector.”