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Selection Committee

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  • Nicky Kinnaird

    Founding Partner
    Ancora Holdings

Nicky Kinnaird MBE is the Belfast-born founder of British beauty retailer Space NK. Nicky, alongside Lori Perella Krebs, has recently partnered with Winona Capital to form Ancora Investment Holdings. Ancora invests in creators of truly authentic health, beauty and wellness brands with a unique voice and a mindful raison d’être.

Ancora are supportive, collaborative partners that bring a long-term commitment together with global expertise and resources. Through the partners’ unique mix of brand-building, operational and financial expertise Ancora firmly focuses brand founders on promoting sustainable growth and evolving their brand for maximum impact.


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  • Kelly Kovack

    Founder and CEO
    BeautyMatter


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  • Elana Drell Szyfer


    Operator and Private Equity Advisor

Experienced C-Level Prestige Beauty Operator and Advisor
Extensive Global, Multi-Channel, Multi-Category Expertise

Elana Drell Szyfer is a Global Beauty expert with more than 25 years of experience managing brands and companies. Her transformational leadership skills have been built at global multi-branded strategic market leaders include Loreal and Estee Lauder and independent privately owned companies. She is a strategic advisor to Private Equity on beauty acquisitions and executional and operational strategies. Elana sits on the Board of Cos Bar, Nest Fragrances, This Works Skincare and Algenist. She is a Board Member of Cosmetics Executive Women, and an Executive Mentor at Fashion Institute of Technology in their Cosmetics and Fragrance Masters Program. In addition, Elana is an Adjunct Professor at The Fair Fashion Center of Glasgow Calcedonian Univerity.


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  • Blythe Jack

    Managing Director
    TGS Consumer Partners

Blythe joins TSG with extensive private equity and consumer experience, having spent over 10 years at Rosewood Capital and, most recently, having served as CEO of a high-growth consumer products company. While a partner at Rosewood Capital, Blythe sourced and structured investments in the health & beauty, apparel, specialty retail, restaurant, consumer products and services segments. She has also served as a National Judge for Ernst & Young’s acclaimed Entrepreneur of the Year® program. Blythe received a BA, with honors, in Communication Studies from Vanderbilt University.


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  • Robin Tsai

    Principal
    VMG Partners

Robin Tsai is a principal at VMG Partners and joined the fund in 2009. Prior to joining VMG, he was a consultant at The Boston Consulting Group. He currently serves on the boards of Drunk Elephant, Spindrift Beverage Company, and Vermont Smoke & Cure. He is a former board member of Vega. Robin graduated from Stanford and received his MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of Business.


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  • Olivier Garel


    Unilever Ventures

M&A professional, Olivier has led a large number of transformative acquisition and divestment transactions for Unilever in different parts of the world. Over the last 20 years in Unilever, he has held senior positions in finance, strategy and business development. Olivier leads Unilever Ventures Investment Committee and manages relationships with a number of Corporate and Venture Capital funds and Private Equity funds around the world. He is currently a Board Director of Iluminage Beauty, Yummly, REN and ioma.


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  • Josh McDowell

    Partner
    Main Post Partners

Josh is a partner at Main Post Partners and has been with the firm since its formation. He was formerly a partner at Weston Presidio, which he joined in 2002. Prior to joining Weston Presidio, Josh worked in investment banking at Salomon Smith Barney in their Financial Sponsors Group. Josh earned his B.A. from the University of California and his M.B.A. from the Harvard Graduate School of Business.


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  • Rich Gersten

    Partner
    Tengram Capital

Mr. Richard Gersten is presently a Partner of Tengram Capital Partners, a consumer private equity firm formed to invest in the consumer and retail sectors. Mr. Gersten has over 25 years of experience in the private equity industry and has spent the last 19 years focused exclusively on the consumer and retail sector, with an emphasis in the beauty and personal care industry. He currently sits on the board of directors of Algenist, Cos Bar, This Works, Active Ride Shop, NEST Fragrances, Deva Curl, and formerly sat on the board of directors for Laura Geller Beauty.


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  • Jon Owsley

    Managing Partner
    L Catterton

Mr. Owsley is a Managing Partner at L Catterton focused on the Growth fund. Prior to joining L Catterton, he was a consultant at The Parthenon Group, a strategy consulting firm based in Boston. At Parthenon, Mr. Owsley worked with private equity portfolio companies to drive revenue growth and profit performance through strategy formulation and operational improvements. Prior to joining The Parthenon Group, Mr. Owsley was a corporate attorney at Hale and Dorr, LLP in Boston where he focused on advising growth companies through private financings and assisting clients with mergers and acquisitions and initial public offerings. Prior to Hale and Dorr he was the Assistant Brew Master at Otter Creek Brewing and was a college lacrosse coach.


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  • Connor Begley

    Co-founder
    Tribe Dynamics