Press Release
Gridiron Capital Promotes Tharrington and Spillane to Principal
New Canaan, CT, January 2008 — Gridiron Capital, LLC a New Canaan, CT-based middle market private equity firm, announced today the promotion of Owen Tharrington and Geoff Spillane to Principal. Both Mr. Tharrington and Mr. Spillane have been with Gridiron since its founding in early 2005.
Mr. Tharrington has experience in private equity investing and in public accounting. Prior to joining Gridiron, Mr. Tharrington was a vice president of another private equity firm and was in the audit and tax departments at KPMG LLP, working with public and private companies. At Gridiron, Mr. Tharrington sources potential transactions, leads leveraged buyout transactions, and works with the firms portfolio companies to build value. Mr. Tharrington graduated magna cum laude from Fairfield University with a B.S. in accounting and received an MBA from Columbia Business School, where he earned membership in Beta Gamma Sigma. He is a C.P.A. licensed in the State of Connecticut.
Mr. Spillane has experience in private equity investing and acquisition finance throughout his career. Prior to joining Gridiron, Mr. Spillane was with another middle market private equity firm. Prior to that he was an officer at Creditanstalt Corporate Finance and Fleet Financial Group where he focused on acquisition finance and equity co-investing. Mr. Spillane was also with GE Capital’s Corporate Finance Group. At Gridiron, Mr. Spillane sources potential transactions, leads leveraged buyout transactions, and works with the firms portfolio companies to build value. Mr. Spillane graduated with a B.A. in economics from Boston College.
Tom Burger, a managing partner of Gridiron Capital, stated “Owen and Geoff are valuable members of the Gridiron team. They have worked hard and have grown tremendously since joining Gridiron. We are excited to have them on our team and to give them the added responsibility and promotion they deserve.”
About Gridiron Capital
Gridiron Capital, LLC, headquartered in New Canaan, Conn., is a private equity investment firm focused on investing in and growing manufacturing, service and specialty consumer companies. The firm’s principals have a long and successful history of investing in and nurturing companies. The principals are successful private equity investors, business owners, operators, and financial professionals. Gridiron principals work closely with management teams to develop strategies for the portfolio companies and provide the necessary human and financial resources needed to execute business plans and build the company. More information on Gridiron is available on the Internet at www.gridironcapital.com.