Orangewood Partners Bolsters Operations and Value Creation Team

Seasoned Operating Executives Jake Brewer and Chuck Sonsteby Join Firm as Managing Director of Operations and Operating Partner, Respectively Furthers Orangewood’s Commitment to Providing Institutional Support for Portfolio and Driving Value for All Stakeholders

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Orangewood Partners (“Orangewood”), a long-term focused private investment firm, today announced it has bolstered its operational leadership team with the additions of Jake Brewer as Managing Director of Operations and Chuck Sonsteby as an Operating Partner.

Mr. Brewer is Orangewood’s first full-time investment professional fully dedicated to portfolio company operations. In this new role, Mr. Brewer will focus on operational diligence and driving value add including institutionalization and innovation at Orangewood’s portfolio companies. He will also work closely with Orangewood’s operating partner and advisory network to improve portfolio company operations. As part of Orangewood’s operating partner group, Mr. Sonsteby will provide strategic guidance to both Orangewood and its portfolio companies.

Neil Goldfarb, Managing Partner of Orangewood, said, “We are delighted to welcome Jake and Chuck to Orangewood as we further enhance the value we provide to our portfolio companies and investors. Jake’s significant expertise in driving digital transformation across our core areas of focus, particularly in the restaurant and multi-unit consumer sectors, coupled with Chuck’s proven track record of success at some of the most recognized and well-run organizations, will be valuable assets to the firm. Orangewood is dedicated to differentiating itself by providing strategic resources to its portfolio companies and having worked closely with both Jake and Chuck previously, we are confident they will be instrumental in driving value for our portfolio companies, investors, and communities.”

Mr. Brewer is an industry professional with 15 years of experience leading restaurant operations, strategy, and technology. Most recently, he was Chief Strategy Officer at Miso Robotics, a tech scale-up focusing on back-of-house restaurant robotics, where he led the company’s product strategy, marketing, fundraising, and general corporate strategy. Prior to Miso, Mr. Brewer served as Vice President of Restaurant Excellence at CKE restaurants. His first 10 years of professional experience were spent at escalating roles in operations and support for Yum! Brands and the Kroger Co.

Mr. Sonsteby is a leader in both public and private sectors with expertise in several critical areas of business, including business strategy, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, domestic and international operations, supply chain and logistics, e-commerce, franchising, finance, accounting, and investor relations. He is the Lead Independent Director for Darden Restaurants, serves on the Valvoline Inc. board, and was previously a board member of The Zale Corporation. Throughout his career, Mr. Sonsteby has held several key management positions, including Chief Financial and Chief Administrative Officer, at The Michaels Companies, Inc., where he helped transition the company from private to public before retiring as Vice Chairman in 2017. Prior to that, he spent two decades with Brinker International, Inc., where he held progressively increasing roles and ultimately served as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President. During his tenure, Mr. Sonsteby was instrumental in driving high growth for the company and positioning it as an industry leader.

The additions of Messrs. Brewer and Sonsteby follow strong momentum in Orangewood’s team. Recently, Orangewood named Dylan Arpey, a dynamic IR professional with a deep network of global investment management relationships, as Vice President of Investor Relations, and appointed Judd and Erica Wishnow, Co-Founders of Southpaw, as Operating Partners following Orangewood’s successful exit of its Kentucky-based taco bell franchisee, ABTB.

ABOUT ORANGEWOOD

Founded in 2015, Orangewood Partners is a New York-based private investment firm with a long-term approach. Orangewood focuses on growth-oriented private transactions in partnership with founder-led businesses, management teams and entrepreneurs. The firm’s senior investment team and deep bench of active operating advisors has decades of experience across a range of sectors, primarily healthcare, consumer, multi-unit and related industries. Orangewood works to build companies into strategic assets in their industries to create long-term value for investors, companies, and communities. For more information, please visit www.orangewoodpartners.com.

Contacts

MEDIA
Nathaniel Garnick/Justin Dechiario
Gasthalter & Co.
(212) 257-4170