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Consumer Products & Services: Executive Advisors

Robert Anderson
Bob spent over 40 years of grocery industry. During his career at Wal-Mart, Mr. Anderson launched and ran the Great Value private label brand. Bob and his team were credited in building Great Value into the leading store brand program in the United States. Bob left Wal-Mart in 2007 as the Vice President General Merchandise Manager (VP/GMM) over private label, with sales in excess of $15 billion. Currently Bob is an independent consultant, working with investors and manufacturers on Store Brand programs.

Bob Berenson, Former Vice Chairman, Grey Global Group
Bob is the former Vice Chairman for Grey Global Group, one of the world’s largest communications companies. During his 40+ year tenure, he focused on account management and administration for the firm, which included 18 different communications disciplines such as direct marketing, Internet communications, public relations/public affairs, healthcare marketing, sales promotion, and media services. As a member of Gryphon’s Executive Advisory Board, Bob assists Gryphon in evaluating and managing investments in the advertising and marketing industries.

John Bowlin - Former President & CEO, SAB Miller & Kraft Foods International
John currently serves as a director of various privately held companies and is a member of both the audit committee and the nominating and corporate governance committee for Spectrum Brands where he has served as a director since 2004. In 2007, John was appointed Chairman of the Board of Spectrum. John served as President and CEO of SABMiller PLC and held several senior executive positions at Phillip Morris Companies, Inc., including CEO of Miller Brewing Company; President and CEO of Kraft Foods International; and President and COO of Kraft North American; and President of Oscar Meyer Food Corporation. Additional industry experience includes various positions at General Foods Corporation.

Elizabeth Culligan - Former President & COO, A&P Grocery Stores
Elizabeth led A&P, an $11 billion supermarket chain with operations in 15 states in the United States and Canada. The company’s 700 stores operated under a mix of trade names including A&P, Waldbaum’s, Food Emporium, Super Foodmart, SuperFresh, Farmer Jack, Kohl’s, Sav-a-Center, Food Basics, Dominion and the Barn. At A&P, she oversaw all operating functions, regional and store operations, merchandising, marketing and strategy, supply chain and logistics and real estate development and covered 80,000 full and part time employees.

David Kantor - Former Senior Partner,
Booz & Co.

David is principal and founder of dkantorassociates, llc, a firm that provides counseling services to senior management on strategy and organization and acts as advisor to private equity and technology start-ups focused on consumer goods and services. Since founding the firm in 2005, he has worked with the senior management teams of several of the large foods, packaged goods and agribusiness companies; provided strategic direction, portfolio consulting, acquisition support and identification of senior operating management for Gryphon Investors.

Michael Kaufman
Until 2003, Michael served as President of the Dallas-based Metromedia Restaurant Group, which comprised the well-known restaurant brands of Bennigan’s, Steak and Ale, Bonanza, and Ponderosa, serving the casual and family restaurant segments, and generating system sales in excess of $1.3 billion. As Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Restaurant Association from 2008 to 2009, Michael initiated and led a pioneering and comprehensive strategic review and plan for the $580 billion restaurant industry’s principal trade association. Michael is currently the Co-President of Enovo Restaurant Ventures, the owner, operator and licensor of Harry’s Tap Room®, a contemporary American restaurant concept based in the Washington D.C. metro area.

Leslie Moeller - Managing Partner, Booz & Co.
Les leads Booz & Co.’s North American Consumer, Media and Retail Market Practice. Previously, he led the firm’s global sales and marketing service offering. His primary area of expertise is helping firms develop new business models to drive growth and reduce cost. A noted authority, Les is the author of “The Better Half: The Artful Science of ROI Marketing,” which appeared in Booz & Co.’s strategy+business magazine and served as the catalyst for his book, The Four Pillars of Profit-Driven Marketing, published in 2009 by McGraw-Hill.

Chris Shimojima
Chris has served as the Vice President, Global Digital Commerce of Nike, Inc. since 2006. In this position, Chris oversees the direct-to-consumer ecommerce businesses globally for Nike Brand, Cole-Haan, Converse, and Hurley. Chris joined Nike from Sears Holdings Inc. where he served as the VP/GM of their direct-to-customer businesses that included Sears.com, Kmart.com, Kenmore.com, and a portfolio of specialty catalogs. Chris spent the first third of his professional career practicing classical brand management with companies like Tambrands, Nestlé and Pepsi-Cola.

Nick White - President & ECO, White & Associates
Nick is founder of White & Associates, an international retail solutions firm focused on strategy, partnerships, logistics and concepts. Prior to founding his firm, Nick held numerous executive and management level positions with Wal*Mart Stores, Inc., including Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Supercenter division; Executive Vice President and General Manager of Sam’s Wholesale Club. He serves as a director of Gold Toe Corporation, Oneida Ltd. and Playtex Products, Inc. White & Associates has worked with several emerging and industry leading retailers and suppliers providing insight into operations and improved efficiencies.

  • Proactive Initiatives & Sectors of Interest:
  • Auto After-Market Products
  • Direct-To-Consumer
  • Household Products
  • Multi-Site Retail or Services
  • Packaged Food & Beverage
  • Personal Care/OTC
  • Private Label CPG

With the head, foreclaws, and wings of an eagle and the torso of a lion, the gryphon is a mythical animal that protects hidden treasures while symbolizing strength and vigilance.