Arbor Investments (“Arbor”), a specialized private equity firm focused on food, beverage, and related industries announces new hires to the firm’s Functional Discipline Team and Investment Team.
FUNCTIONAL DISCIPLINE TEAM
Chris Erklenz has joined Arbor as Vice President of Operations and Supply Chain. Erklenz brings over 25 years of supply chain and operational leadership experience, most recently as Chief Operating Officer at DPI Specialty Foods, a previous Arbor portfolio company. As a Functional Leader, Chris will help support portfolio companies with operation, procurement, warehousing, transportation and distribution. His earlier career included a variety of supply chain and operational positions with United Natural Foods in the US and Canada.
INVESTMENT TEAM
Jacob Vila has joined Arbor’s Investment Team as a Senior Associate in the Chicago office. Vila previously worked at The Pritzker Organization where he was an Associate on their investment team. Prior to TPO, he was at BMO Capital Markets in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group.
Commenting on the hires, Arbor Co-CEO Carl Allegretti stated, “We’ve always differentiated ourselves by employing high-caliber talent with areas of specialization to help support our portfolio companies. It’s a testament to the strength of the firm when top talent and operators from our portfolio companies choose to join Arbor as their next career move. We are ecstatic to have Chris join John Jordan’s team of operational experts to drive our value creation and at the same time welcome Jacob to our ever-growing investment team.”
