Team

Eric Eddings

President, Branch Brook Holdings, LLC

Eric Eddings has served as President of Branch Brook Holdings since Fall 2019. He is currently the CEO & President of Oregon Ice Cream (Alden's, Cascade Glacier), where he joined in 2015. Previously, he was President & CEO of Sahale Snacks, a leading brand of innovative, natural snack mixes. Eric held general management and senior operations roles with Monterrey Gourmet Foods, CIBO Naturals, Tully's Coffee Corporation, and Dreyer's. He started his career working in sales at Haagen-Dazs and Frito-Lay. On a personal note, Eric is passionate about food, family, and healthy living, as well as helping entrepreneurs evolve and scale their organizations the right way to preserve product quality, employee safety, community impact, and environmental stewardship.

Andrew Richards

Managing Director, Swander Pace Capital
Director, Branch Brook Holdings

Andrew Richards founded Swander Pace Capital in 1996 and is SPC's CEO and Chairman of its Investment Committee.

Prior to founding SPC, Andrew was with William E. Simon & Sons where he directed their private equity investment program in the consumer products sector. He began his career in investment banking at PaineWebber, Inc. where he specialized in raising capital and corporate advisory for emerging growth companies. Andrew received an MBA from Harvard Business School and an AB degree cum laude from Harvard University.

Andrew served on the Presidential Task Force on Market Mechanisms under President Ronald Reagan which studied the causes of the 1987 stock market crash. He is currently Chairman Emeritus of the Newark Museum, where he has held various board roles for 23 years.

Rob DesMarais

Managing Director, Swander Pace Capital
Vice President & Secretary, Branch Brook Holdings

Rob DesMarais joined SPC in 2005. Rob evaluates new investment opportunities for SPC and BBH, works closely with its partners and portfolio companies, and is a member of the Investment Committee.

Prior to SPC, Rob worked in the investment banking divisions of Bank of America and Deutsche Bank with a focus largely on middle-market consumer product companies. Prior to these firms, Rob held multiple operating positions within Sara Lee Corporation, a global consumer products company. He received an MBA from The Kellogg School at Northwestern University, and a BA degree from Michigan State University.

R. Timothy O'Donnell

Partner, Jefferson Capital Partners
Director, Branch Brook Holdings

Prior to co-founding Jefferson Capital Partners in 1989, Mr. O'Donnell was a First Vice President in charge of Leisure and Entertainment Corporate Finance at PaineWebber. Tim has extensive experience with equity and debt capital markets transactions. He currently serves on the board of directors of several JCP portfolio companies including firstSTREET, Inc. and MicroMass Communications, Inc. Mr. O'Donnell earned B.A., J.D., and M.B.A. degrees from the University of Virginia.

Steven L. Spinner

President and Chief Executive Officer, United Natural Foods Inc.

Steven Spinner has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of United Natural Foods (UNFI) and as a member of its Board of Directors since September 2008. Prior to joining UNFI, Steve served as a director and as Chief Executive Officer of Performance Food Group Company ("PFG") from October 2006 to May 2008, when PFG was acquired. He previously held senior roles at PFG, including serving as the company's President and Chief Operating Officer. Steve has also served on the Board of Directors for Arkansas Best Corporation, a public company and the parent of ABF Freight System, Inc., since July 2011.

C. Morris Stout

Mo Stout joined SPC in 2000. Mo originates and executes investments, as well as works with portfolio companies to provide strategic guidance, and is a member of the Investment Committee.

Prior to SPC, Mo worked at Lombard Investments, a middle-market private equity firm based in San Francisco. Earlier in his career, he was an investment banker at Kidder, Peabody & Co. and The Argosy Group where he focused on leveraged finance transactions. Mo received an MBA from Stanford Business School and a BA degree from Vanderbilt University.

Corby Reese

Managing Director, Swander Pace Capital

Corby Reese joined SPC in 2004. Corby originates and executes investments, as well as works with portfolio companies to provide strategic guidance, and is a member of the Investment Committee.

Prior to SPC, Corby was responsible for originating and managing leveraged buyouts, growth equity, and mezzanine portfolio investments with BankBoston Capital. Corby received an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA degree with distinction from Yale University.

Corby has been a volunteer and Director at Martha's Vineyard Cerebral Palsy Camp (Camp Jabberwocky) for over 25 years.

Tyler Matlock

Managing Director, Swander Pace Capital

Tyler Matlock joined SPC in 2008. Tyler originates and executes investments, as well as works with portfolio companies to provide strategic guidance, and is a member of the Investment Committee.

Prior to SPC, Tyler worked at Houlihan Lokey, where he focused on middle-market merger and acquisition transactions in the Food & Beverage category. He received a BA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.