ARTHUR P. BYRNE, Operating Partner
Mr. Byrne joined J.W. Childs Associates in August 2002. Previously, he was Chairman, President and CEO of The Wiremold Company from 1991 until 2002. Mr. Byrne successfully sold Wiremold, a leading manufacturer of products used in the electrical industry, to Legrand S.A. in July 2000. Prior to joining Wiremold, Mr. Byrne was a Group Executive with the Danaher Corporation, where he was responsible for one-half its business from 1985-1991. At both Danaher and Wiremold, he was responsible for introducing and implementing Lean Management practices that resulted in strong gains for both companies. Prior to joining Danaher, Mr. Byrne held various positions with the General Electric Company including General Manager of its Nickel Cadmium Battery Operations and its High Intensity and Quartz Lamp Department. As non-executive Chairman of the Board of WS Packaging, and Esselte, Mr. Byrne is leading the implementation of Lean Management at J.W. Childs Associates portfolio companies. His previous portfolio company involvement includes American Safety Razor. Mr. Byrne holds a B.S. Degree in Economics from Boston College and an M.B.A. from Babson College.
JOHN W. CHILDS, Chairman and CEO
Prior to founding J.W. Childs Associates in 1995, Mr. Childs was Senior Managing Director of the Thomas H. Lee Company (“THL”) from 1991 to 1995 and a Managing Director there from 1987 to 1990. In these capacities, he had broad responsibilities for originating, analyzing, negotiating and managing leveraged buyout transactions for the THL funds. For 17 years prior to joining THL, Mr. Childs was with the Prudential Insurance Company of America where he held various executive positions in the investment area, ultimately serving as Senior Managing Director in charge of the Capital Markets Group. In that position, from 1984 to 1987, he was responsible for Prudential’s approximately $77 billion fixed income portfolio, including all the Capital Markets Group’s investments in leveraged acquisitions. He is currently a director of Advantage Sales and Marketing, Sunny Delight, Esselte, Mattress Firm, CHG Healthcare Services and SIMCOM. Mr. Childs has a B.A. from Yale University and a M.B.A. from Columbia University.
DAVID A. FIORENTINO, Partner
Mr. Fiorentino joined J.W. Childs Associates in July 2000 after working previously in the Investment Banking Division at Morgan Stanley. He is currently a director of CHG Healthcare Services, W/S Packaging, Fitness Quest, Mattress Firm and Joseph Abboud. His previous portfolio company involvement includes American Safety Razor, Bass Pro Shops and Universal Hospital Services. Mr. Fiorentino received a B.A. degree, Magna Cum Laude, from Amherst College and a M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
HEMANSHU PATEL, Senior Associate
Mr. Patel joined J.W. Childs Associates in November 2007. Previously, he was an Analyst in the Global Technology Group in the Investment Banking Division at Citigroup Global Markets. Mr. Patel received a B.S. degree in Finance from Rutgers University.
RAYMOND B. RUDY, Operating Partner
Mr. Rudy joined J.W. Childs Associates in July 1995. Previously, he was Deputy Chairman of Snapple Beverage from 1992 until the company was sold in 1994. In that capacity, he was responsible for all of the company's international activities and played a key role in recruiting senior executives to direct the company's rapid growth. From 1987 to 1989, Mr. Rudy was President of the Best Foods Affiliates of CPC International. From 1984 to 1986, Mr. Rudy was Chairman, President and CEO of Arnold Foods Company, a leveraged buyout, which he organized with Clayton, Dubilier & Rice. Mr. Rudy directed the growth of Arnold's revenue and operating income and negotiated the sale of the company to CPC. From 1979 to 1984, Mr. Rudy was President of Oroweat Foods Company, a subsidiary of Continental Grain Company. From 1963 to 1979, Mr. Rudy served in various executive positions at General Foods Corporation, including Group Vice President for diversified operations (1973 to 1976) and international development (1976 to 1979). Mr. Rudy is non-executive Chairman of the Board of Sunny Delight Beverages and is a director of Advantage Sales and Marketing. Previously, Mr. Rudy was non-executive Chairman of the Board of Meow Mix, Hartz Mountain, American Safety Razor, Beltone Electronics and Personal Care Group. He was also a director of Pinnacle Foods. Mr. Rudy holds a B.S. degree from UCLA and a M.B.A. from Xavier University.
ADAM L. SUTTIN, Partner
Mr. Suttin co-founded J.W. Childs Associates after previously working at THL from 1989 to 1995. Mr. Suttin primarily focuses on consumer products and specialty retail investments for the Firm. He is currently a director of Advantage Sales and Marketing, Brookstone, Sunny Delight, Esselte, Joseph Abboud, Mattress Firm and NutraSweet. His previous portfolio company involvement includes American Safety Razor, Pinnacle Foods, Meow Mix, Ross University and Personal Care Group. Mr. Suttin received a B.S. degree, Magna Cum Laude, from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Applied Science, Magna Cum Laude, from the Moore School of Engineering of the University of Pennsylvania.
STEVEN G. SEGAL, Special Limited Partner
Mr. Segal co-founded J.W. Childs Associates after previously working at THL, where he was a Managing Director, from 1987 to 1995. Prior to THL, he was a Senior Tax Accountant with Arthur Andersen & Co. He is currently a director of MAAX, NutraSweet, InSight Health Services, Fitness Quest and W/S Packaging. His previous portfolio company involvement includes Universal Hospital Services, National Nephrology Associates and International Diverse Foods. Mr. Segal received a B.S.B.A degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Mr. Segal is a Certified Public Accountant.
JEFFREY J. TESCHKE, Partner
Mr. Teschke joined J.W. Childs Associates in 1998 after working at Quad-C Management, a private equity firm based in Charlottesville, VA, and in the Leveraged Finance Department of Merrill Lynch & Co. Mr. Teschke has been involved with numerous investments in the consumer products sector. His portfolio company experience includes Advantage Sales and Marketing, Coldmatic Group, Dobson Communications, Esselte, Fitness Quest, Pinnacle Foods, Sunny Delight Beverages and W/S Packaging. Mr. Teschke received a B.A., Magna Cum Laude, from the University of Rochester and a M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
JODIE URQUHART, Chief Financial Officer
Ms. Urquhart joined J.W. Childs Associates in April 2004. Previously, she was with Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu as a Senior Associate from 2000 to 2004. Ms. Urquhart holds a B.S. degree in Accounting from Syracuse University and is a Certified Public Accountant.
WILLIAM E. WATTS, Operating Partner
Mr. Watts joined J.W. Childs Associates in June 2001. Previously, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of General Nutrition Companies from 1991 until 2001. Prior to being named President and Chief Executive Officer in 1991, Mr. Watts held the positions of President and Chief Operating Officer of General Nutrition, President and Chief Operating Officer of General Nutrition Center, Senior Vice President of Retailing and Vice President of Retail Operations. Mr. Watts currently serves as non-executive Chairman of the Board of Fitness Quest, Mattress Firm and EmployBridge and as executive Chairman of Joseph Abboud. He is also a director of Brookstone. Mr. Watts was also non-executive Chairman of the Board of Murray’s Discount Auto Stores as well as a director of Equinox and Bass Pro Shops. Mr. Watts holds a B.A. degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo.
