Star Avenue Capital, a consumer growth equity vehicle recently formed by private equity firm Irving Place Capital and strategic investor Creative Artists Agency, has hired Paul Lattanzio as its president.
Lattanzio was previously head of Bear Growth Capital Partners (BGCP), a private equity arm of failed US investment bank Bear Stearns’ Merchant Banking division, the predecessor of Irving Place Capital. He replaces Mark Genender, who has agreed to join buyout firm Carlyle Group as a New York-based managing director in its consumer and retail group.
Joining Lattanzio at Star Avenue is Drew Baird, also formerly of BGCP, who will serve as vice president, which made its first transaction in clothing company J Brand Jeans.