Prior to founding Koru, Brian was a Partner with The Zabel Companies, a lower middle market private equity firm, where he sourced, led, and managed investments in growth-oriented manufacturing and value-added distribution businesses.

In his seven years at Zabel, Brian played an instrumental role in building the firm’s track record and expanding the portfolio, serving on the board of five investments, including SVI International (Board Chair),
Frame It Easy (Board Chair), Medical Packaging, Bedford Precision Parts, and Centennial Woods. As part of his leadership responsibilities, Brian built out dynamic value creation strategies in partnership with management teams within the portfolio, significantly expanded third party service provider relationships to drive growth and improved performance, led sourcing and marketing efforts for the firm, and established recruiting and performance management processes within Zabel and its portfolio companies.

Prior to Zabel, Brian was an operator at EnPro Industries (NYSE: NPO), a $2B engineered industrial products and services conglomerate, where he served in roles of increasing responsibility, including as Director of Strategy & Corporate Development, during which he led EnPro’s platform investments into the food & pharma processing and aerospace parts categories, and later as a business unit leader with P&L responsibility for the mechanical seal, bearing isolator, and mining seal businesses within the Garlock division, driving 60% earnings growth over a two year period.

Prior to EnPro, Brian was an investor at Copeley Capital, where he evaluated and supported lower middle market private equity investments, including Champion ONE, EMS Management & Consultants, Badger Land, and Roll-Rite. Brian began his career as an investment banking analyst at McColl Partners, a boutique middle market investment bank founded by Hugh McColl Jr., the former Chairman & CEO of Bank of America, where he executed mergers and acquisitions, private capital raises, and strategic advisory work for family and founder-owned companies.
Brian was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. His small company roots and values run deep as the son and grandson of founders of multi-generational family businesses. He has vivid memories of walking around Logan, WV with his grandfather as he was stopped in the street by various former employees of his local shoe store.

Brian graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Science from the McIntire School of Commerce. Brian is married with three children under the age of 7. When he’s not chasing his kids around, Brian’s hobbies generally revolve around sports and outdoor adventures, including golf, mediocre pickup basketball, fly fishing, Cincinnati Bengals football, cajun cooking, and backpacking off the grid. He is most proud of his incredible wife and three children.