TSG Consumer Partners has appointed Sean Sullivan as managing director and chief legal officer, effective May 5. In this newly created role, Sullivan will oversee all legal matters and enterprise risk management and serve as TSG’s primary liaison with outside counsel.
The specialist private equity firm said Sullivan brings nearly 20 years of experience advising public and private companies through “significant transformations, including strategic acquisitions and IPOs.” He brings extensive expertise in the consumer sector, most recently from The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc., a former TSG partner company, where he served as EVP, chief transformation and legal officer.
During his six-year tenure at Duckhorn, the company reported “doubled revenues, earnings and headcount. Sullivan also oversaw Duckhorn’s listing on the New York Stock Exchange in 2021 and its take-private transaction in late 2024.
In his new role at TSG, Sullivan also draws on his experience as a board member of Dutch Bros Coffee, another former TSG partner company, and the Green Coffee Company.
“We’ve had the privilege of working with Sean for nearly two decades and are thrilled to officially welcome him to TSG,” said Jamie O’Hara, president of TSG Consumer. “Sean brings deep legal expertise, a steady hand through complex transformations and a strong understanding of the consumer landscape. His leadership will be a tremendous asset to our firm and our partner companies as we continue to help them grow and evolve to meet the needs of consumers.”
“During my time at Duckhorn, I experienced firsthand the strategic insight, deep consumer knowledge and true partnership approach that define TSG,” said Sullivan. “After nearly 20 years of working alongside the team, I’m excited to join TSG and support the continued growth and success of its partner companies.”
Earlier in his career, in addition to his work as an investment banker at Credit Suisse, Sullivan spent twelve years at Gibson Dunn, where he led teams advising on founder- and sponsor-backed IPOs and spin-offs, complex regulatory matters, strategic corporate initiatives at the board and management levels, fiduciary duties, capital raising, governmental affairs, and “over 100 M&A transactions.”
Sullivan earned his JD from Columbia University School of Law, where he was a James Kent Scholar and Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. He received his BA, Summa Cum Laude, from Saint Mary’s College.
Founded in 1986, TSG Consumer Partners, LP is a consumer-focused private equity firm with approximately $14 billion in assets under management. TSG’s representative past and current partner companies in the active lifestyle space include Backcountry, Canyon Bicycles, Nuun, Planet Fitness, Revolve, and CorePower Fitness.
TSG has investment offices in San Francisco, New York and London.
Images courtesy Canyon Bicycles, LinkedIn
