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.
Prior to joining Prelude Growth Partners, Mitch worked on the Consumer, Food & Retail team at Lazard Middle Market, where he advised private companies and investors on various buy-side and sell-side merger and acquisition transactions across the Consumer landscape, with a particular focus on the Food and Beverage sectors. Mitch received a BBA in Finance from the University of Notre Dame, where he was a member of the varsity fencing team.
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, MatchesFashion, and Golden Goose, and is a former Trustee to 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 Walmart subsidiary, Jetblack. Previously, Jenny was the Co-Founder of 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. Jenny is a board member of Apollo’s $750m SPAC, Shutterfly and Party City. She earned her MBA from Harvard Business School and graduated cum laude from Yale University.
Charisse Ford Hughes has over 23 years as a marketing executive leading global, consumer brands. She is currently the Global Chief Marketing Officer for Kellogg Company. Prior to this, Charisse was CMO Pandora Americas, and previously was Senior Vice President at the Estee Lauder Companies, leading the Estee Lauder brand. Charisse also sits on the Board of Directors for Crocs (CROX), is a Board Advisor for Pixability, and sits on the Executive Committee of the Baltimore Development Corporation.
Lauri Kien Kotcher is the CEO of hello products, a naturally friendlyTM personal care company that was acquired by Colgate in 2020. Prior to her current role, Lauri was a Senior Advisor at LCatterton. Lauri spent 10 years in senior line marketing roles including as CMO of Godiva and Head of Global Brands at Pfizer Consumer Healthcare. Previously, Lauri was a partner at McKinsey and Company and a co-leader of the Consumer Practice. Lauri holds a BA cum laude from Princeton University and JD/MBA degrees from Stanford University.
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. 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. Her public company boards include VF Corporation and Vroom.
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.
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.
Todd Siwak is the Chief Executive Officer of Ferrara Candy Company – one of the world’s largest confectionery companies and an affiliate of the Ferrero Group (Nutella, Kinder, Tic Tac). In his role as CEO, Todd oversees the strategic direction of the Chicago based, $2 billion dollar confectionery company. Prior to his role at Ferrara Candy, Mr. Siwak was an Operating Partner at L Catterton for six years. Todd has also served on numerous nonprofit boards.
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.
