Sean Sullivan appointed chief legal officer at TSG Consumer after two decades of collaboration
US private equity powerhouse TSG Consumer Partners has named Sean Sullivan as its first-ever chief legal officer, expanding its leadership team as it continues to scale globally.
Sullivan, who currently serves as CLO and chief transformation officer at The Duckhorn Portfolio—a premium wine brand in which TSG has a stake—will take up his new post on 5 May. He joins the San Francisco-based firm with a remit to manage legal strategy, regulatory risk, and governance across its $14bn portfolio.
His appointment reflects TSG’s growing emphasis on internal legal capability amid a period of aggressive investment and expansion.
Embed from Getty ImagesJamie O’Hara, TSG’s president, welcomed Sullivan’s appointment warmly. “We’ve had the privilege of working with Sean for nearly two decades and are thrilled to officially welcome him to TSG,” he said. “Sean brings deep legal expertise, a steady hand through complex transformations, and a strong understanding of the consumer landscape.”
TSG’s high-profile investments include BrewDog, Planet Fitness, neobank Revolut, Robinhood, Cutex, and Voss. Sullivan’s deep familiarity with the firm and its brands made him a natural choice for the role, O’Hara added.
Sullivan spent the last six years at Duckhorn, leading legal and transformational strategy. His previous experience includes two stints at global law firm Gibson Dunn & Crutcher in both San Francisco and New York. In between, he worked in investment banking at Credit Suisse.
Speaking about his move, Sullivan said: “During my time at Duckhorn, I experienced firsthand the strategic insight, deep consumer knowledge and true partnership approach that define TSG. After nearly 20 years of working alongside the team, I’m excited to join TSG and support the continued growth and success of its partner companies.”
His appointment follows a growing trend in the private equity sector to formalise internal legal functions. Last month, TPG brought in Debevoise & Plimpton partner Jennifer Chu as its new general counsel. Earlier this year, AE Industrial hired McDermott Will & Emery partner Matthew Friendly as its first GC.
Sullivan’s hire positions TSG to tackle increasingly complex legal and regulatory demands across international markets while enhancing strategic oversight in the consumer investment space.
