Zep Taps PE Veteran Tim Feast as CEO to Drive Aggressive Growth

ATLANTA, GA – April 13, 2026 – In a move that signals a clear and aggressive growth strategy, Zep, Inc. has appointed seasoned executive Tim Feast as its new Chief Executive Officer. The appointment comes less than a year after the 89-year-old cleaning solutions company was acquired by Los Angeles-based private equity firm Truelink Capital, and it firmly places a proven operator at the helm, tasked with executing a playbook of accelerated growth, operational sharpening, and strategic expansion.

Feast steps into the leadership role with a mandate to build upon Zep's extensive legacy in both professional and consumer markets. His appointment is the most significant step yet in the new chapter that began with Truelink's acquisition in July 2025, a transition designed to infuse the company with fresh resources and a renewed ambition for market leadership.

The Private Equity Playbook in Action

Tim Feast's selection is a direct reflection of Truelink Capital's investment philosophy. Founded in 2022, Truelink has quickly established a reputation for its hands-on, operationally focused approach, targeting established middle-market companies with strong fundamentals that can be optimized for accelerated growth. With a recently closed $2.0 billion second fund, the firm specializes in implementing strategic initiatives and transformative acquisitions.

Feast's resume reads like a blueprint for this strategy. With nearly three decades of senior leadership experience, he has a well-documented history of steering private equity-backed companies toward significant performance improvements and successful exits. Before joining Zep, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer of PurposeBuilt Brands, a portfolio of specialty consumer cleaning products, where he was credited with leading an operational transformation that culminated in a successful sponsor exit. Prior to that, as President of Personal Care at KIK Custom Products, he engineered a major performance turnaround for the contract manufacturer, which also resulted in a sale to a new private equity sponsor.

This track record of value creation is precisely what Truelink was seeking. “Tim is the right leader to take Zep forward,” said Todd Golditch, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Truelink Capital. “Tim’s track record of building high-performance teams and delivering results across complex, multi-channel businesses makes him uniquely suited to drive the next phase of Zep's evolution. We’re confident in his ability to accelerate growth and unlock the full potential of what this company can become.”

A Veteran Operator for a Legacy Brand

Feast brings a depth of experience that extends across consumer packaged goods and large-scale specialty manufacturing. His career includes a nearly five-year tenure at Graham Packaging, where he held full P&L responsibility as President of the $1.5 billion Food & Beverage division, overseeing 43 manufacturing facilities. His broader experience includes leadership roles at Spartech Corporation and over 12 years at Solutia Inc. At Solutia, he was instrumental in growing the global Saflex business, achieving a remarkable 30% top-line growth and nearly 50% EBITDA improvement over a three-year period as VP of Business Management.

This extensive background in managing complex operations and driving financial results provides him with the credibility to lead Zep's multi-faceted business, which spans retail, industrial, and institutional channels. Feast himself has articulated a straightforward and intense approach to his new role.

“Zep is an incredible brand with a foundation that is the envy of this industry, trusted by professionals for 85 years and increasingly by consumers who demand real performance,” Feast stated. “I’m excited to join the Zep team and our partners at Truelink Capital to capture the significant opportunities ahead of us. We have a clear focus: prioritize what matters, invest in our people, execute with intensity, and win together.”

Navigating a Shifting Cleaning Industry

Feast takes the helm at a time of both significant opportunity and challenge for the cleaning solutions industry. The global market is being reshaped by powerful trends, creating a dynamic landscape for Zep to navigate. A major growth driver is the surging demand for sustainable and eco-friendly products. With the global green cleaning market projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate exceeding 8%, Zep's legacy of developing products that meet stringent regulatory and performance standards positions it well to capitalize on this shift.

Furthermore, the heightened post-pandemic focus on health and hygiene continues to fuel demand for high-performance disinfection and sanitation solutions. This environment aligns with Zep's core strength in professional-grade products. The company is already demonstrating momentum with the recent national launch of its Freshen™ odor-eliminating product line and its “Messes Have Zero Chance” marketing campaign, which is active in 18 major U.S. markets.

However, the new CEO will also face persistent headwinds, including ongoing supply chain disruptions that have impacted the cost and availability of raw materials across the industry. Intense competition from established giants like Ecolab and SC Johnson Professional, as well as nimble direct-to-consumer brands, requires continuous innovation and sharp commercial execution. Feast’s operational expertise will be critical in managing these supply chain and cost pressures while simultaneously driving the innovation needed to stay ahead.

Under his leadership, Zep is expected to reinforce its strategic expansion across its key channels, strengthening partnerships with major retailers like Lowe’s, The Home Depot, Walmart, and Kroger, while also growing its industrial and institutional customer base. The combination of a legacy brand, a new infusion of private equity capital, and a proven turnaround specialist as CEO sets the stage for a period of significant transformation and growth for Zep.