April 19, 2022

By Lynda Kiernan-Stone, Global AgInvesting Media

A new private equity firm, Jove Island Capital,  is joining the rolls with a focus on branded consumer products, particularly opportunities in the food and beverage space. 

This new strategy is being launched in Jupiter, Florida, by two investment industry veterans: Marc Pinto, former portfolio manager at Janus Henderson Investors for 26 years, was lead portfolio manager for the Janus Twenty Fund, Janus Henderson Growth and Income Fund, and the Janus Henderson Balance Fund. Prior to his time at Janus, he was an associate with the investment banking division at Goldman Sachs where he advised some of the world’s top consumer brands, including PepsiCo and Anheuser Busch. 

Gregory D. Johnson was formerly director and portfolio manager with Capital Research & Management Co., with more than 27 years of investment experience in a variety of consumer-related sectors, including serving on multiple internal boards at Capital Group. 

Pinto and Johnson will serve as co-CEOs and directors, while Martin  Salomon, formerly with Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., will assume the role of senior vice president of the new firm, rounding out a leadership team with more than 60 years of combined experience in the consumer space.

“We started our firm with one simple mission: to help owners of great consumer brands realize their vision,” said Pinto. “We are passionate about collaborating with proven management teams to help strong brands accelerate their growth while simultaneously creating attractive returns for our investors.”

The firm cites attractive competitive dynamics and opportunities to capitalize on shifts in consumer behaviors, including evolving consumer demographics, shopping patterns, and consumer preferences, which have created a compelling landscape for consumer investment and driving factors behind the formation of Jove Island Capital. 

The firm stated that it will partner with founder-owners and executive teams to achieve the next phase in growth for its portfolio companies. To help achieve this, Jove Island has an impressive board of Special Advisors that includes:

~ Alan D. Wilson, retired executive chairman, president and CEO of McCormick & Company Inc.
~ Eric Katzman, co-chief investment officer and partner for Rockingstone Advisors
~ John Yamin, former CEO of ARYZTA Americas
~ Juliette Hickman, former investment analyst and investor for Capital World Investors, part of The Capital Group Companies
~ Michalis Imellos, non-executive director for Coca-Cola HBC Finance BV
~ Rebecca Messina, senior advisor with McKinsey & Company
~ Ronald Hopkinson, former partner at Cooley LLP

“We are thrilled and honored to have a team of industry leaders make up our board of Special Advisors,” said Johnson. “Our collective experience, insights, resources and professional relationships worldwide will be key to helping management teams scale their businesses, drive growth, and increase profitability.”

~ Lynda Kiernan-Stone is editor with GAI Media, and is managing editor and daily contributor for Global AgInvesting’s AgInvesting Weekly News and  Agtech Intel News, as well as HighQuest Group’s Unconventional Ag. She can be reached at lkiernan-stone@globalaginvesting.com.

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