Morgan Buehler Zanotti Joins Summit Partners as Executive-in-Residence

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Global growth equity investor Summit Partners is delighted to welcome Morgan Buehler Zanotti to the firm’s Executive-in-Residence (“EIR”) program. In this role, Morgan will work closely with Summit’s Growth Products & Services team to identify new investment opportunities and advise growth-stage companies within the functional foods and health and wellness sectors.

Morgan brings more than a decade of experience building, leading and supporting brands in the functional food and beverage categories. In 2014, Morgan co-founded Primal Kitchen, a bootstrapped, better-for-you condiment and supplement brand that has grown to offer more than 70 products sold across 16,000 retail outlets. As President, Morgan helped drive robust growth resulting in a sale to Kraft Heinz. Post-acquisition, Morgan transitioned to a senior executive role at Kraft Heinz, serving as divisional president of Primal Kitchen for four years. Here, she focused on scaling Primal Kitchen into new categories and channels, with the company nearly quadrupling retail sales and meaningfully increasing household penetration. Morgan was subsequently named Kraft’s Vice President of New Ventures, where she spearheaded corporate development and M&A strategy in the health and wellness category.

Prior to Primal Kitchen, Morgan led the marketing efforts at KeVita, a pioneering Kombucha brand, which was later acquired by Pepsi in 2016. Morgan launched her focus on the consumer foods industry at Culver Brand Design where she worked with numerous marquee brands including Stacy’s Pita Chips, Tostitos, Lays, Cheetos, Ruffles, Cracker Jack, Pepsi and Taco Bell.

“Our team was drawn to Morgan’s diverse set of experiences in the functional foods category, from scaling rapidly growing, bootstrapped businesses to strategic executive roles at a Fortune 500 company. Morgan brings a distinct skill set, network and perspective that we believe will benefit growth companies in an important and expanding area of the health and wellness sector,” said Julianne Hummelberg, a Vice President at Summit Partners. “We enthusiastically welcome Morgan as an EIR, and we look forward to working with her in supporting other entrepreneurs and executives in the category.”

“The impact of food on health and wellness has long been a passion of mine,” said Morgan. “I am impressed by the proactive approach the Summit team takes to supporting growth-stage companies and look forward to working alongside the Summit team to identify, support and scale breakout brands that help people live healthier, more active lives.”

Summit has been active in the consumer and healthcare sectors for nearly four decades. Since the firm’s founding in 1984, Summit has partnered with more than 80 consumer companies.

Summit’s EIR program is an established element of the firm’s growth-oriented investing strategy. Since its inception, the program has facilitated collaboration between seasoned industry executives and Summit’s investment professionals, working to identify sector-specific opportunities in which EIRs may support companies in an ongoing capacity through board or executive leadership roles.

About Summit Partners

Founded in 1984, Summit Partners is a global alternative investment firm with capital dedicated to growth equity, fixed income, and public equity opportunities. Summit invests across growth sectors of the economy and has invested in more than 550 companies in technology, healthcare, and other growth industries. Summit maintains offices in North America and Europe and invests in companies around the world. For more information, please see summitpartners.com or follow on LinkedIn.