New York, USA, July 9, 2024 – Brand Velocity Group (“BVG”), an innovative and diversified investment platform focused on acquiring and transforming businesses, today announced that Lauren Serota has joined the firm as its Chief People & Culture Officer.
Ms. Serota joins BVG from Patagonia where, since 2019, she had served as the Head of Talent Development, Performance, Learning & Development, and People Analytics. Ms. Serota also serves as an HR Advisor to Semper Virens, a venture capital firm, where she advises founders on technology, strategy, and culture. Ms. Serota also previously held talent and operations roles at Gap, Inc., Accenture, and the World Bank Group. She holds a BA from Sarah Lawrence College, a Masters of International Affairs from Columbia University, and a Masters of Science in Management Systems from NYU.
“Lauren’s proven ability to improve operations by uplifting employees fits our strategy—to create value through close collaboration and innovation, as well as infusing a bit of ‘heart’ into all that we do,” said Steve Lebowitz, Founding and Managing Partner at BVG. “The addition of Lauren represents the next evolution of our firm and our commitment to scaling company culture, and will allow us to drive value creation in a way few other private equity firms have tried. We’re thrilled to have Lauren join the team, and are humbled that she has chosen BVG to continue her positive impact on the world.”
BVG combines its team’s decades of finance, marketing, and business development experience with an employee-centric ethos, developing a unique and powerful approach to accelerating growth at its portfolio companies. Its commitment to company culture is highlighted by its pioneering “Share the Gains” equity participation program, through which every employee at BVG portfolio companies participates in the ownership group.
“Having been part of multiple championship teams during my athletic career, I know firsthand how a strong team culture shapes long-term success,” said Eli Manning, Partner at BVG. “By working to transform culture, and identify and reward talent, Lauren will position our portfolio companies to grow and thrive for years to come.”
In this newly created role, Ms. Serota will work directly with BVG and its portfolio companies to transform and enhance company culture, leading initiatives focused on talent and performance management, reward and recognition programs, learning and leadership development, and employee-engagement functions.
“In five short years, BVG has emerged as a leader in the private equity industry based on it recognizing the value that portfolio company employees create and rewarding them accordingly,” said Serota. “I’m excited to be joining BVG at this inflection point in its growth and continuing the team’s track record of transformational innovation.”
Brand Velocity Group is a diversified investment platform focused on disrupting and improving the private equity industry’s traditional approach to growing consumer-facing businesses, with an emphasis on the idea that marketing works and people matter. By combining the team’s decades of finance and operating expertise with leading in-house marketing and employee development resources, BVG has developed a unique and demonstrated approach to accelerating the growth of the businesses they partner with. As one example, the BVG team believes that private equity should and can be a positive force in driving company culture, and in support, they “Share the Gains” with portfolio company employees in recognition of the value they create by making each employee an equity holder. BVG has also launched two specialty sub-verticals—BVG Sports (“BVGS”) and BVG Fashion & Apparel—that leverage the firm’s strengths in these categories.
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