December 2006
New York, NY – December 18, 2006 – Centerview Partners today announced that David M. Hooper has joined the firm as a partner to oversee its private equity investment business. Prior to joining Centerview, Mr. Hooper was a Managing Director at New York based Vestar Capital Partners, where he headed the firm’s Consumer Group and was Chairman of its U.S. Investment Committee.
Centerview’s private equity business will be managed by Mr. Hooper and James M. Kilts, former Vice Chairman of the Board, The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG) and former Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of The Gillette Company.
Centerview Partners will focus its private equity investment activities in consumer-oriented companies, capitalizing on the firm’s network and expertise in the sector and Mr. Kilts’ 35-year career in consumer products. It will look for investments with primary operations in the U.S. where it can bring strategic and operational improvements and tap Mr. Kilts’ experience in turning around world-class branded companies such as Gillette and Nabisco.
“I’m delighted to be a part of the Centerview team,” said Mr. Hooper. “The firm is well positioned to source attractive consumer oriented investment opportunities and to add real value to portfolio companies.”
Centerview Partners, based in New York, was founded by Jim Kilts, Stephen Crawford, formerly Co-President, Morgan Stanley, Blair Effron, formerly Vice Chairman, UBS, and Robert Pruzan, formerly Chief Executive Officer of Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein North America and President of Wasserstein Perella & Co.
“David’s knowledge of the consumer sector and strong track record as a private equity investor makes him the ideal partner for us,” said Mr. Kilts.
Mr. Crawford, Effron and Pruzan commented, “With both David Hooper and Jim Kilts on board, we have the foundation for an excellent private equity business. Their investing and operating experience, combined with the firm’s extensive consumer industry relationships, creates a unique investment capability. Our goal is to become the private equity partner of choice for management teams and investors in the consumer sector.”