To learn more about Prelude Growth Partners and how we can partner with you, contact us at info@PreludeGrowth.com
We take a highly active and collaborative approach to partnering with founders, entrepreneurs and management teams. The Partners have known and worked with each other for 20 years. Together with our world-class Operating Advisors, we offer significant value to the next generation of iconic brands.
Neda is a leading consumer growth investor with real-world operating experience.
Prior to founding Prelude Growth Partners, Neda was a Partner and a member of the Investment Committee at L Catterton, a global private equity firm, where she worked for 12 years. Her growth investing experience spans the Consumer landscape. Prior to that, she was an executive at Bed, Bath & Beyond. Neda began her career at McKinsey & Company and Morgan Stanley. Neda received a Masters in Economics from Cambridge University, England and she earned her MBA from Harvard Business School.
Alicia is a strategic and innovative leader who has driven the growth of leading consumer brands.
Prior to founding Prelude Growth Partners, Alicia was Global President of Beauty at Johnson & Johnson, leading a multi-billion dollar portfolio of 10+ iconic global brands. Prior to that, she was an executive at Estee Lauder for 11 years, including leadership roles at Bobbi Brown and Clinique. Alicia began her career at McKinsey & Company where she spent 5 years serving consumer clients. Alicia is a summa cum laude graduate of The Wharton School and she earned her MBA from Harvard Business School.
Will has significant experience working with small, high growth and large, global consumer companies. Prior to joining Prelude Growth Partners, Will worked on the private equity investing team at Goldman Sachs Principal Investment Area, where he evaluated investment opportunities in the consumer and retail sectors. Prior to that, Will was a member of the investment team at TowerBrook Capital Partners, an international private equity firm, and began his career in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group at J.P. Morgan. Will received a BA in Economics from Cornell University and he earned his MBA from Harvard Business School.
We have a world-class group of operating advisors, including:
Maureen Chiquet became the first Global CEO of Chanel in 2007, where she oversaw the business and the iconic brand’s world-wide expansion. Maureen left Chanel in 2016 to focus on writing, speaking, and developing new leadership initiatives. Maureen began her career in marketing at L’Oreal Paris in 1985. She has worked at The Gap, helped launch Old Navy, and was president of Banana Republic before becoming COO and President of U.S. operations of Chanel in 2003. Maureen sits on the board of Canada Goose as well as the New York Art Academy, and is a fellow of the Yale Corporation.
Maureen Case is a beauty veteran, industry guru, and currently the CEO of skincare brand Augustinus Bader. Maureen was a leading executive for over 20 years at the Estee Lauder Companies, where she was President, Specialty Groups Worldwide, heading top brands such as Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, La Mer, and Jo Malone London. Post her Lauder tenure, Maureen was the President of Violet Grey, an L.A.-based luxury content and commerce beauty company, and subsequently the General Manager of Butterfly Beauty LLC.
Jenny Fleiss is CEO and Co-Founder of Code Eight, the first portfolio company in Walmart’s startup incubator, Store No. 8. Previously, Jenny co-founded Rent the Runway, a business that has transformed the retail industry, and where she remains a board member and advisor. Prior to Rent the Runway, Jenny worked at Lehman Brothers and Morgan Stanley as part of their Strategic Planning Groups.
Lauri Kien Kotcher is the CEO and a Board member of Hello Products, a disruptive oral care company, as well as a Senior Advisor at LCatterton and Board Member at CoverFX. Prior to her current roles, Lauri spent 10 years in senior line marketing roles as CMO of Godiva, Head of Global Marketing at Pfizer Consumer Healthcare and as Head of Marketing in the Equities business at Lehman Brothers, where she was a Managing Director. Previously, Ms. Kien Kotcher was a partner at McKinsey and Company and a co-leader of the Consumer Practice.
Laura Lang is an experienced former CEO and private/public board member. In 2014, Ms. Lang founded Narragansett Ventures, a strategic advisory and investment firm. Prior to that, she was the CEO of Time Inc., a division of Time Warner. Previously, Ms. Lang served as global CEO of Digitas, the largest global marketing and technology agency in the industry. Before joining Digitas, Ms. Lang worked for Marketing Corporation of America (MCA), Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Bristol Myers and the Quaker Oats Company.
Alison Lewis is currently the Chief Growth Officer for Kimberly-Clark. Previously, Alison enjoyed an 18 year career at Coca-Cola, including her role as CMO, North America at Coca-Cola and President and General Manager for Odwalla Inc., the juice company. Post Coca-Cola, Alison was the Global Chief Marketing Officer for Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies. Alison started her career at Kraft Foods.
Julian Mack has a broad range of experience in consulting, investing, and management. Previously, Julian was a Senior Partner at L Catterton and Head of the Portfolio Operations Group. Prior to that, he served clients at McKinsey & Company for 22 years, where he held a variety of senior roles. He also served on the Management Committee of Bridgewater Associates, a leading global hedge fund. Julian is a Senior Advisor of L Catterton.
Anthony Marino is currently President at thredUP – an explosively high growth pioneer in bringing the $30 billion fashion resale industry online. Before thredUP, Mr. Marino spent seven years on the leadership team of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, leading its investment program and product innovation teams in North America. Prior to joining Virgin, Mr. Marino was a Principal at Venrock, the venture capital arm of the Rockefeller family office.
Jim Sabey provides over 20 years of groundbreaking leadership experience in global brand development, marketing, live entertainment and promotion. Jim was Head of Worldwide Marketing for Parkwood Entertainment (Beyonce Inc.), where he drove the growth and development of one of the world’s most successful global consumer brands. Previously Jim was owner and CEO of the Brian Reyes brand, as well as Senior Vice President for Sony International.
Jeff B. Smith is the former Company Group Chairman, North America, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc. and served on the corporation’s Group Operating Executive Committee. Jeff has a strong track record of building and marketing global brands, developing consumer insight-driven innovation capabilities, leading strategic business turnarounds and driving profitable growth in his 25+ year career with Johnson & Johnson. Previously, he worked with Proctor & Gamble in Canada.
