Capitol Peak Partners is focused on investing opportunistically in consumer businesses in the broad middle-market in North America.
We are business builders with a 30-year track record of value creation at companies like Dean Foods and WhiteWave, where we partnered with talented management teams to generate strong, risk adjusted returns for our investors. Given our prior hands-on experience, we can contribute more than just capital to help companies grow and we can tap our expansive network when appropriate.
We believe we are ideal partners for entrepreneur- and family-owned companies where value creation is prioritized over short-term gains and flexible transaction structures are appreciated. We value integrity and are always transparent with our business partners.
Senior Investment Team
Gregg Engles – Partner
Gregg founded Capitol Peak Partners in August 2017. Prior to Capitol Peak, Gregg was the Chairman & CEO of WhiteWave, a high-growth food and beverage company with sales of $4BN+ across four branded platforms: Plant-Based Foods & Beverages (Silk, Alpro, So Delicious and Vega), Premium Dairy (Horizon and Wallaby), Coffee Creamers & Beverages (International Delight) and Fresh Foods (Earthbound). Gregg sold WhiteWave to Danone for $12.5BN in April 2017. Prior to WhiteWave, Gregg was the Chairman & CEO of Dean Foods, the largest processor and distributor of fluid milk in the United States and the former parent company of WhiteWave. Gregg built Dean Foods through more than 100 transactions over 25 years beginning with the acquisition of Reddy Ice from Southland Corporation in 1988 for approximately $25MM. He began his career as an investor and operator in Dallas after serving as a clerk for Judge Anthony M. Kennedy on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Gregg received his BA from Dartmouth College and a JD from Yale Law School.
Gregg currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Dartmouth College and the Board of Directors of Danone (ENXTPA.BN). He previously served on the Boards of TreeHouse Foods (NYSE:THS), the Grocery Manufacturers Association, The Hockaday School, the Southwestern Medical Foundation, the Children’s Medical Center of Dallas and as the Chairman of the Tate Lecture Series at Southern Methodist University.
Ed Fugger – Partner
Ed co-founded Capitol Peak Partners with Gregg and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the firm in addition to sourcing, structuring and executing investments. Prior to Capitol Peak, Ed was Executive Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development for WhiteWave where he oversaw the development and execution of the Company’s growth and capital structure strategies. In addition, he was responsible for WhiteWave’s China Joint Venture. Prior to WhiteWave, Ed was Senior Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development for Dean Foods which he helped transform through numerous transactions over eight years. Prior to Dean Foods, he was a Managing Director in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group of Bear Stearns. Ed has substantial domestic and international transaction experience having completed over 50 transactions worth more than $25BN in value. Representative transactions include the sale of WhiteWave to Danone, the joint venture between WhiteWave and Mengniu Dairy, the IPO and subsequent spin-off of WhiteWave, the sale of Morningstar Foods, the acquisition of Alpro, the spin-off of Treehouse Foods and the acquisition of Dean Foods. He began his career in the audit and assurance practice at Price Waterhouse. Ed received his BBA from Texas A&M University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Ed currently serves on the Finance Department Advisory Board for Mays Business School at Texas A&M University.
Kelly Haecker – Partner
Kelly joined Capitol Peak Partners in 2018 and is responsible for sourcing, evaluating and executing investments, and then providing financial and operational counsel to those investments post-acquisition. Prior to Capitol Peak, Kelly served as Executive Vice President & CFO of WhiteWave, where he provided financial leadership for WhiteWave’s IPO in 2012 and then directed all financial activities of the Company, culminating in the $12.5BN sale to Danone in 2017. Kelly joined WhiteWave initially as Senior Vice President & CFO of WWF Operating Company, the primary North American operating division of the Company. Prior to WhiteWave, Kelly held senior management roles at Gillette, where he began as head of finance for its Duracell battery division, and then went on to lead the finance function for Gillette’s European Commercial Operations based in Geneva, Switzerland. Kelly previously served as Senior Vice President & CFO of Mother’s-Archway Cookie Company, a manufacturer and distributor of branded bakery products, and as Vice President and Corporate Controller of Specialty Foods Corporation, a diversified branded food company. Kelly began his career in the Commercial Audit and Financial Consulting Division of Arthur Andersen LLP. Kelly received his BS from the University of Nebraska and a Masters of Management from Northwestern University (Kellogg).
Kelly currently serves on the Board of Directors of Porter Adventist Hospital, Denver and is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Denver KLIFE.
Kevin Yost – Partner
Kevin joined Capitol Peak Partners in 2018 and is responsible for sourcing, evaluating and executing investments, and then providing operational guidance post-acquisition. Prior to Capitol Peak, Kevin served as Executive Vice President of WhiteWave where he was President of Americas Food & Beverages, the Company’s primary operating segment. Kevin led the U.S. and Canada operating functions where he oversaw WhiteWave’s portfolio of leading brands, including Silk, International Delight, Horizon Organic, So Delicious, Vega, Stok, Earthbound and Wallaby. Prior to WhiteWave, Kevin was President & COO of Saputo Dairy Foods USA, an operating segment of Saputo, a global dairy manufacturer based in Montreal, Canada. Kevin previously was President & COO of Morningstar Foods, an operating segment of Dean Foods, which was ultimately sold to Saputo for $1.5BN. Following the transaction, Kevin and his management team led the post-merger integration. Prior to Dean Foods, Kevin was Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer of Swift & Company, a private equity-owned protein company with U.S. and Australian operations and sales offices throughout Asia and Mexico. Swift was ultimately acquired by JBS of Brazil for $1.4BN. Earlier in his career, Kevin held various operating and general management positions, including SVP and General Manager at ConAgra Foods. Kevin received his BS from the University of Nebraska.
Kevin currently serves on the Board of Directors of Denver KLIFE, the Board of Trustees and Investment Committee of the Nebraska Foundation, and is Chairman of the Dean’s Advisory Board of the University of Nebraska College of Business.
Colin Murphy – Principal
Colin is a founding team member of Capitol Peak Partners and is responsible for sourcing, diligencing and structuring investments. Prior to Capitol Peak, Colin was Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development for WhiteWave where he was responsible for developing and executing the Company’s global acquisition and investment strategies. Colin was involved in WhiteWave’s acquisitions of EIEIO, Vega and Wallaby as well as the $12.5BN sale of the Company to Danone. Prior to WhiteWave, Colin was a Principal at Centerview Capital, an operationally-oriented, consumer-focused private equity firm with approximately $500MM in committed capital. At Centerview, he was involved in several successful investments including Big Heart Pet Brands / Del Monte, Richelieu Foods and The Nielsen Company. Prior to Centerview Capital, he was an Associate at Centerview Partners, an independent investment banking and advisory firm. He joined Centerview at the firm’s inception. He began his career at UBS Investment Bank. Colin received his BA from Georgetown University.