SFEP Fortifies Team for Aggressive Consumer Market Strategy

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – February 04, 2026 – San Francisco Equity Partners (SFEP), a private equity firm with a dedicated focus on the consumer sector, has announced a series of strategic personnel moves, signaling a confident and aggressive posture in a complex market. The firm promoted Andrew Poley to Principal and Marc Berbert to Vice President, while also bringing on new talent with the hiring of John Duffy as Vice President of Business Development and Olivia Harris as an Associate. While personnel announcements are routine in the world of finance, these moves point to a deliberate strategy by SFEP to deepen its expertise, formalize its deal-sourcing capabilities, and double down on its hands-on approach to value creation within the lower middle market.

A Proactive Strategy for a Challenging Market

The most significant tell in SFEP's announcement is the creation of a dedicated business development leadership role with the hiring of John Duffy. In the current private equity climate, where overall deal volume has seen a notable decline and competition for high-quality assets is fierce, firms can no longer afford to be passive in their deal origination. Duffy, who joins from American Pacific Group and previously served at Bainbridge Capital Advisory, is tasked with overseeing SFEP's deal origination efforts.

SFEP Managing Partner Scott Potter highlighted the strategic imperative behind the hire. “Hiring John demonstrates SFEP’s commitment to proactive thesis-driven sourcing of platform investments across the consumer value chain and will build on our momentum in executing accretive add-on acquisitions,” Potter stated. This statement underscores a dual focus: identifying new, compelling platform companies and continuing to build out existing portfolio assets through smaller, strategic acquisitions.

The firm reported executing 11 such add-on acquisitions in 2025, a strategy that allows for growth and value creation even when the market for large, new platform deals is sluggish. By formalizing its sourcing strategy under Duffy, SFEP is investing in a systematic engine to maintain a robust pipeline of opportunities that align with its specific investment thesis, aiming to find value where others might not be looking.

Rewarding Proven Value Creators

Alongside its strategic new hires, SFEP is elevating proven internal talent. The promotions of Andrew Poley to Principal and Marc Berbert to Vice President reflect the firm's model of cultivating expertise and rewarding tangible contributions to its portfolio.

Andrew Poley, who joined the firm as an Associate in 2017, has become a central figure in the firm's investment activities. His promotion to Principal comes after years of involvement in due diligence, deal execution, and providing operational support to partner companies. He serves on the boards of several key SFEP investments, including specialty baker Rustic Bakery, contract manufacturer SV Labs, and the firm’s recent 2025 platform acquisition, Formula Corp, a developer of sustainable cleaning products. His deep integration with these companies showcases the hands-on approach SFEP champions.

Marc Berbert, who joined in 2021, has also quickly become a key contributor. In his new role as Vice President, he will continue his work with a diverse set of portfolio companies, including the prestige beauty brand Jane Iredale, insulated drinkware innovator BruMate, and Xceed Foodservice Group. His involvement across these varied consumer sub-sectors demonstrates the breadth of expertise required to execute SFEP's strategy.

“Andrew and Marc have become integral contributors to the growth of our platform and the success of our partner companies,” said SFEP Partner David Mannix. “These promotions represent a natural progression for both Andrew and Marc and reflect their importance to SFEP’s sourcing, deal execution and value creation activities.” The promotions serve as a clear endorsement of their ability to drive the firm's operational-first investment philosophy.

The Piper Sandler Pipeline

A closer look at the backgrounds of SFEP’s team reveals a distinct pattern: a strong connection to the consumer investment banking group at Piper Sandler. Both Poley and Berbert began their careers as analysts in the bank’s consumer group. They are now joined by new Associate Olivia Harris, who also started her career as an analyst at Piper Sandler’s consumer investment banking division before moving to Swander Pace Capital, another consumer-focused private equity firm.

This “Piper Sandler Connection” is no coincidence. It represents a sophisticated talent acquisition strategy. Investment banking analyst programs, particularly at firms with strong sector specialization, are a primary training ground for future private equity professionals. Analysts gain intensive experience in financial modeling, M&A execution, and deep industry analysis. By repeatedly recruiting from this specific talent pool, SFEP ensures its team members arrive with a shared foundation of rigorous analytical training and a pre-existing knowledge of the consumer landscape.

This strategy provides SFEP with a pipeline of talent that is not only technically proficient but also culturally aligned with the firm's focus. Harris’s subsequent experience at another consumer PE firm further burnishes her credentials, making her an ideal fit. As Potter noted, “Olivia brings highly relevant experience across multiple consumer verticals to the firm, as SFEP continues to scale its industry-focused investment team.” This methodical approach to team building ensures a consistent level of expertise and a shared language for evaluating opportunities across the consumer value chain.

Deepening Focus on the Consumer Value Chain

Ultimately, these personnel changes are designed to sharpen SFEP’s ability to execute its core mission: partnering with lower middle-market companies across the consumer value chain. The firm defines this value chain broadly, investing not just in direct-to-consumer brands but also in the manufacturers, service providers, and private label specialists that form the backbone of the consumer economy. The 2025 acquisition of Formula Corp, a company specializing in R&D and manufacturing for cleaning products, is a prime example of this comprehensive view.

With a bolstered team of experienced investors and a dedicated deal-sourcing head, SFEP is well-positioned to navigate the nuances of this dynamic sector. The firm's emphasis on both new platform investments and a high volume of add-on acquisitions indicates a flexible, opportunistic strategy. In a market that demands specialization and a proactive approach, SFEP is making calculated investments in its human capital, signaling its intent to remain a dominant player in consumer-focused private equity for years to come.