Brett Pentz
Growth Specialist - North America
I joined ECI in 2020 as a Growth Specialist focussed on North America, opening ECI’s New York office. It means I start my mornings working through emails from my ECI and portfolio company colleagues as they are just starting their afternoons. My role entails helping our portfolio companies with their M&A and business growth ambitions in the US and Canada, providing boots on the ground support and a relevant network to accelerate market entry and expansion opportunities.
I started my career in implementation and program management for healthcare software vendor Epic, and then found consulting, where I have worked with several private equity firms and their portfolio companies first at Bain & Company and Teneo (formerly Credo) before staring my own firm Magnetic North Strategies. I have lived and worked in the US, UK, and Canada.
I received my degree in Biomedical Engineering at Northwestern University and my MBA in Strategy and Operations at Vanderbilt University, but my greatest educational accomplishments are in trivia.
“My first paid jobs were all related to sport. I held roles in both youth football (head referee) as well as baseball (scorekeeper/statistician), and I ran a youth tennis camp at a country club – all as summer jobs growing up. “
“I lived walking distance from three-Michelin starred Alinea when I was working in Chicago. I don’t even remember how many courses there were, maybe 15, but it involved an edible balloon, a tableside dessert art installation, and the most memorable and best tasting meal I have had to date. “
“I spent so many years working for private equity firms and their portfolio companies, and since joining ECI I have been amazed by the strength of the relationship and the partnership that exists between the ECI team and its portfolio.”
