Dennis O’Brien

Dennis joined Gryphon in 2008 an Operating Partner, currently working with Gryphon’s Consumer Group. In his role, Dennis works closely with the management teams of the group’s portfolio companies to maximize short- and long-term operating and financial performance. He also assists Gryphon deal teams in identifying, evaluating and executing investments. Dennis previously served as Head of the Gryphon Operations Support Team, as well as on the Gryphon Executive Committee and Investment Review Committee. He is also the Executive Chair of the Gryphon Executive Advisory Board. He is currently Chairman of Mechanix Wear and serves on the board of Milani Cosmetics. Dennis previously served as Chairman and/or Operations Partner and board member for various Gryphon Consumer, Business Services and Healthcare investments, including Dessert Holdings, DLC, ECG Management Consultants, Flagstone Foods, Fleet Laboratories, K&N Engineering, Matrixx Initiatives/ZICAM, RoC Skincare, Sheplers, Staffing Now, SynteractHCR, Trinity Consultants and TrustHouse Services.

Dennis brings over 40 years of experience, including more than 25 years of operating experience in the Consumer Packaged and Durable Goods industries. Across his career, Dennis has been responsible for building and leading high performance management teams, leading multiple turnarounds and restructurings resulting in material earnings and share value accretion. He has also built out smaller venture or growth brand franchises.

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

• Tree House Foods, Independent Director – Accumulated 10+ years of public company board experience, serving as Lead Independent Director as well as Chairman of the Audit and Nomination and Governance Committees.  
• ConAgra Foods, President & COO, Retail Products – Began career in Key Account Sales, moved up the Brand Management Ranks before becoming Division President and ultimately President and Chief Operating Officer at Conagra Foods – responsible for $9 billion of revenue and 17,000 employees.
• Armstrong World Industries, VP Consumer Products 
• Campbell Soup, VP & GM, Beverages 
• Nestle, Director 
• Procter and Gamble, Field Advertising

EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

B.S., Marketing, University of Connecticut

FIRST JOB

New product sampling team for P&G. In my first year I traveled to 40 states, driving over 70,000 miles in a company station wagon.