Z Capital Partners Announces Expansion of Operating Partner Team

LAKE FOREST, Ill., April 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Z Capital Partners, L.L.C. ("Z Capital"), a leading private equity firm that makes opportunistic control investments in companies that may require growth capital, operational turnaround or restructuring, today announced that it has named David Barr, Joyce Hrinya and John Dupuy as Partners on Z Capital's Operating Team. The Operating Team assists in conducting operational due diligence, building management teams and in value-creation initiatives for Z Capital's portfolio companies.

"We are very pleased to announce David, Joyce and John as Partners on Z Capital's Operating Team," said James J. Zenni, President and Chief Executive Officer of Z Capital. "Their collective track record of generating growth and transforming businesses is impressive and we will benefit from their combined expertise in various industries where they have significant experience, including retailing, consumer products, consumer food, industrial manufacturing and logistics.We look forward to their contributions to the entire Investment Team as we continue to drive growth and capitalize on opportunities to further enhance our diverse  portfolio of companies."

David BarrMr. Barr is a Managing Director and member of the Operating Team of Z Capital and serves as a director of Mrs. Fields-Famous Brands and Real Mex, both Z Capital Partners portfolio companies. Mr. Barr has extensive experience in consumer goods, retail, restaurants and operations including privately held PMTD Restaurants LLC (a franchisee of KFC) and The Jewelry Group (the third largest jewelry retailer in Australia). In addition, he sits on the Board of Directors of Del Frisco Restaurant Group, Inc., Charles and Colvard, Inc., and Wornick, Inc. Mr. Barr previously served as the Chairman of Rita Restaurants Corp (dba Don Pablo's Mexican Restaurants and Hops Grill & Brewery) from 2007 to 2014. In addition, he was the Chairman of Samuels Jewelers, Inc. from 2000 to 2006 at which time he led the sale of the company to Gitanjali Gems. He began his career in Atlanta with Price Waterhouse (1986-1991) and then joined Pizza Hut, Inc. within its finance department (1991-1994). From 1994 to 1998, Mr. Barr was the CFO and then the CEO of Great American Cookies, a franchisor and operator of 367 mall based cookie stores, which was eventually sold to Mrs. Fields.

Joyce HrinyaMs. Hrinya is a Managing Director and member of the Operating Team of Z Capital. Ms. Hrinya serves on the board of Mrs. Fields Famous Brands a Z Capital portfolio company. Ms. Hrinya has 25 years of experience helping companies build profitable brands. She has held key executive positions in marketing, strategic planning, business development and customer satisfaction. Prior to joining Z Capital, Ms. Hrinya served as Founder and Managing Partner of A&R Strategy Partners, a strategic marketing consulting firm that helps companies grow through acquisition and retention of profitable customers. Ms. Hrinya was previously Senior Vice President of Marketing and Customer Satisfaction at Helzberg Diamonds a Berkshire Hathaway company from 2004 to 2010, at which time she led all marketing and customer satisfaction functions for Helzberg's 240 stores and served in a governance role as member of a six person Executive Board. She began her career in Cleveland with General Electric Company (1984-1986) and then joined the Sara Lee Corporation, an American consumer-goods company, serving as Strategic Planning and Forecasting Manager (1988-1990), Director of Brand Development (1990-1992) both at Coach and Champion Europe, Vice President of Marketing Aris Isotoner (1993-1996) and Vice President of Business Planning Playtex (1996-1997). From 1997-1999, Ms. Darkey-Hrinya served as Vice President, General Manager of the Dana Buchman Accessories Division at Liz Claiborne, Inc, a fashion company that markets a wide range of women's and men's apparel and accessories. From 1999 to 2004, Ms. Hrinya served in several positions at Danskin, Inc, including General Manager (1999-2000) and Senior Vice President of Marketing (2000-2004).

John DupuyMr. Dupuy is a Managing Director and member of the Operating Team of Z Capital. Mr. Dupuy serves on the board of MSD Automotive  Group, LLC, a Z Capital portfolio company. Mr. Dupuy has substantial experience in executing operational turnarounds and business transformations as well as devising growth strategies for middle market industrial, business services and consumer products companies in North America, Europe, Asia and South America. Prior to Z Capital, Mr. Dupuy was an Operating Partner at H.I.G. Bayside Capital and as CEO, led the restructuring of AirNet, a cargo airline and Bayside Capital portfolio company. Prior to Bayside Capital, Mr. Dupuy was an Operating Partner at Arsenal Capital Partners where he led transportation, logistics and supply chain investment efforts. In addition, Mr. Dupuy was President of North American and Allied Van Lines and North American Logistics which were owned by SIRVA, a Clayton, Dubilier & Rice portfolio company. At SIRVA, Mr. Dupuy led several successful restructuring and turnaround efforts in North America and Europe. Earlier in his career, Mr. Dupuy was Vice President of Strategic Planning and Chief Information Officer at Maytag, and a member of the senior team that helped transform Maytag into the industry leader in product innovation. Prior to Maytag, Mr. Dupuy was a consultant with Booz, Allen & Hamilton and A.T. Kearney where he led projects in post-merger integration, manufacturing and product line strategy, lean manufacturing, competitive analysis, turnaround management and privatization of state owned enterprises. 

About Z Capital Partners

Z Capital Partners, L.L.C. ("Z Capital") is a leading private equity firm with approximately $1.7 billion of regulatory assets and committed capital under management and with offices in Lake Forest, IL and New York, NY. Z Capital pursues an opportunistic, value-oriented approach in private equity that includes making control investments in middle-market companies that may require growth capital, turnaround, restructuring or other special situations.

Z Capital portfolio companies currently have aggregate worldwide annual revenues of approximately $3 billion, sell products in 98 countries, and employs in excess of 200,000 associates directly and through joint ventures.

Z Capital's investors include prominent global sovereign wealth funds, endowments, pension funds, insurance companies, foundations, family offices, wealth management firms and other financial institutions in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.  For more information, please visit www.zcap.net.

Contacts  Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher Jonathan Keehner/ Gabrielle Miller212-355-4449

SOURCE Z Capital Partners, L.L.C.