Stride Consumer Partners, a growth equity firm that specializes in partnering with talented founders to build the next generation of great consumer brands, is pleased to welcome David Retter to our team. David joins Stride as an Operating Partner focused on operations, strategic planning, customer experience, marketing, and ecommerce. In this new role, David will support our deal teams with diligence analyses as well as our partner teams as they work to realize their vision, operational excellence, and growth ambitions.
“We are thrilled to welcome David to Stride,” said Sharon Fox, Founding Member and Operating Partner at Stride. “We have collaborated with David over the last several years and have seen the incredible value that he delivers both within our diligence process and through the partnerships he creates working alongside our talented partner brand teams. We feel lucky to have him join us as we continue to add fire power to our Operating Partner capabilities at Stride.”
Prior to joining the team at Stride in 2023, David has held positions as Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Operating Officer and as a marketing executive at several growth stage businesses spanning multiple categories. Most recently, David ran an advisory firm that partnered with goal-oriented companies, private equity and venture capital groups looking to drive a step-change in business performance. During this time, David worked on many projects with the Stride team and with our partner brands – Patrick Ta Beauty, Skinfix, Chomps and Truewerk to name a few.
Throughout his career, David has worked closely with consumer brands (Melissa & Doug, Freshly, CityRow, OXO, Handy) taking on roles and challenges in nearly every department from product development to marketing, operations, and business strategy. This depth of experience across business roles gives David a distinct perspective on operationalizing brands for scale.
“I have had the pleasure of working with members of the Stride team over the last few years and appreciate how they focus on beloved consumer brands within beauty, food and beverage, and active lifestyle. In my new role, I look forward to supporting and working with our talented founder and executive teams – and the team at Stride – to build the next generation of passion brands,” commented David Retter, Stride Operating Partner.
Please join us in welcoming David to Stride.
About Stride Consumer Partners:
Stride is a private equity firm that specializes in partnering with talented and dynamic founders, entrepreneurs, and business leaders to build the next generation of great consumer brands. Founded by a passionate group of experienced investor-operators, Stride’s unique approach brings together a fully integrated team of successful investors working alongside seasoned operators to assist high-growth and disruptive consumer products and services businesses to hit their stride. Together, we support our partners on their journey as they take decisive steps toward delivering on their vision. Within consumer, we focus on the following areas of expertise: beauty, food and beverage, active lifestyle and multi-unit consumer services.
During their time together in private equity, the Stride team members have had the pleasure of working side-by-side with the founders and teams of Brew Dr, The Bruery, Chomps, drybar, Essentia, First Aid Beauty, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, MacKenzie-Childs, Patrick Ta Beauty, Simms Fishing Products, Skinfix, Tatcha, Truewerk, TRX, Urban Decay, and Yasso.
For more information, please visit Stride Consumer Partners website.