Pritzker Private Capital Promotes David Gau to President and Brad West to Chief Operating Officer
CHICAGO – (December 13, 2023) – Pritzker Private Capital (“PPC”), a leader in family direct investing, is pleased to announce the promotions of David Gau and Brad West. David has been named President, in addition to his current role as Head of Operations. Brad has been named Chief Operating Officer, in addition to his current roles as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer. Both promotions are effective January 1, 2024.
David, who joined PPC in 2014, has more than 30 years of experience building and operating multi-national organizations. As President and Head of Operations, David, who previously also served as Chief Operating Officer, will continue to work alongside Michael Nelson, Managing Partner and Head of Investing, to lead PPC’s day-to-day operations. PPC’s operational resources include its internal firm operations as well as the firm’s operating partners and functional experts who support PPC’s family of companies across a broad range of disciplines, including automation, commercial strategies, digitization, lean manufacturing, strategy, human capital and risk management, among others.
Brad joined PPC in 2014, bringing experience across corporate, finance and transactional law. During his ten years at PPC, Brad has assumed progressively larger responsibilities including various transactional, legal, compliance and risk management activities across the firm and its family of companies. As Chief Operating Officer, Brad will be responsible for overseeing the firm’s internal operations, including PPC’s legal and compliance, human resources, information technology and finance functions.
“David and Brad are incredibly talented, hard-working individuals who have been integral to PPC’s growth and success,” said Tony Pritzker, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pritzker Private Capital. “These operational roles are fundamental to our ability to drive long-term value by building leading capabilities across the PPC family of companies, as well as within our own firm. I am confident that our operations will continue to thrive under their leadership as we help our family of companies achieve long-term success.”
The promotions of David and Brad are a continuation of PPC’s planned leadership transition initiated in January 2023, whereby Paul Carbone, PPC’s Co-Founder and former Managing Partner and President, transitioned his role of Managing Partner to Michael, and David was promoted to Chief Operating Officer. With David’s promotion to President, Paul will now assume the role of Vice Chairman of the Board. In addition to supporting PPC as Co-Founder and Vice Chairman, Paul will continue to be actively engaged in developing PPC’s network of premier family groups and cultivating new opportunities with academic, industry and family organizations. Paul also will work alongside Tony and his family office in supporting non-competitive, more passive investing strategies.
“Working alongside Tony over the last decade plus to build PPC into a leader in the family direct investing space, I have developed a passion for helping families continue their legacies through their investing efforts. I look forward to sharing our journey and working with other families as we collectively develop the family capital market,” said Paul. “An important part of building a successful business culture is developing a plan to ensure the success of our organization well into the future, including developing and supporting the next generation of leaders. I am truly excited about the team we have built to lead the continued success of Pritzker Private Capital.”
About David Gau
David Gau is currently Chief Operating Officer and Head of Operations for Pritzker Private Capital. David joined PPC in 2014 and previously served as an Operating Partner and Co-Head of the Manufactured Products sector team. David works with Aurorium, Bardstown Bourbon Company, C.H. Guenther & Son, Highline Warren, Monogram Foods, PathGroup, Plaskolite, PLZ, ProAmpac, and Technimark. David joined PPC after a 30-year career building and operating multi-national organizations. Prior to PPC, he served as CEO of Intersystems, a manufacturer of material handling equipment for agricultural and industrial applications. Prior to Intersystems, he served as EVP of Global Commercial Operations and Group President of Industrial Fluid Power for Gates Corp. Prior to Gates Corp., he served as President of Air System Components, a division of Tomkins. David received his B.S. from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
About Brad West
Brad West is currently General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for Pritzker Private Capital. Brad is responsible for managing the legal aspects of the Firm’s operations, including transaction execution, corporate governance, risk management, media relations, and regulatory compliance. Brad initially joined PPC (then PGPC) in 2014 as Vice President – Legal. Prior to PPC, Brad worked in the private equity, finance, and transactions practice of Vedder Price, P.C. and in the corporate and securities group at Mayer Brown LLP. Brad received his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School and his B.B.A. from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.
About Pritzker Private Capital
Pritzker Private Capital partners with middle-market companies based in North America with leading positions in the manufactured products and services sectors. The firm’s differentiated, long-duration capital base allows for efficient decision-making, broad flexibility with transaction structure and investment horizon, and alignment with all stakeholders. Pritzker Private Capital builds businesses for the long term and is an ideal partner for entrepreneur- and family-owned companies. Pritzker Private Capital is a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). For more information, visit PPCPartners.com.
Contacts
Blair Hennessy / Lauren Hilliker
H/Advisors Abernathy
(212) 371-5999 / (646) 670-7564
blair.hennessy@h-advisors.global / lauren.hilliker@h-advisors.global