Palatine swoops for high-flyer Feeney
MANCHESTER-based Palatine Private Equity has further strengthened its Executive Advisory Board following the appointment of Michelle Feeney, a highly influential and respected figure in the branded consumer goods industry.
Feeney was chief executive of St Tropez, the LDC backed self-tanning company growing EBITDA to £7.4m before it was sold to PZ Cussons in 2010.
She subsequently joined PZ Cussons and was responsible for the establishment of PZ Cussons Beauty in London, New York and Melbourne.
Feeney began work in fashion show production and PR in the early 1980s, before setting up her own PR and marketing agency, working for high profile clients including musician Malcolm McLaren.
She was later headhunted by Estée Lauder to work on branding projects and helped Tommy Hilfiger to launch one of the first ever celebrity fragrances.
Feeny was then promoted to vice president of Global Communications at MAC Cosmetics as part of its strategy to expand globally, following the company’s acquisition by Estée Lauder in 1996.
Over a period of seven years, she was part of a senior management team that launched MAC cosmetics into 40 countries, growing it from a $65m brand into a $1bn business. Michelle also took a leading role in promoting the MAC AIDS Foundation.
In her latest role, Feeney will help support deal origination and offer strategic advice to Palatine’s investee companies as part of its Executive Advisory Board. Palatine is a Manchester, London and Birmingham-based private equity investor which typically invests between £10m and £30m into entrepreneurial businesses in the UK.
She will join other experienced advisers including Pets at Home founder Anthony Preston, Mears Group Chairman Bob Holt, Opal Telecommunications founder Neil McArthur MBE, former CEO of Synexus Michael Fort and Chairman of John Charcol and Wren Sterling Ian Darby.
Feeney said: “Palatine is the type of business I wanted to get involved with when I stepped down from my role at PZ Cussons. The firm has an excellent track record of backing ambitious management teams. For me, joining a business that had a strong culture was important and I’m looking forward to working with the team to find more exciting investment opportunities.”
Gary Tipper, managing partner at Palatine Private Equity, added: “We are delighted to have Michelle on board.
Not only has she been involved in shaping some of the world’s biggest beauty brands, but she has been instrumental in developing exceptional management teams. Her expertise of growing highly successful branded businesses both in the UK and overseas is will be invaluable to our advisory board.”
Palatine recently closed its third fund at £220m in June 2015, making its first Fund III investment into Bolton-based healthcare business Vernacare in October. The firm has a number of other companies in its portfolio including restaurant and bar brands The Alchemist and Gusto and financial advisory business Wren Sterling.
