Leadership Appointments Strengthen JAB’s Consumer Investment Strategy
JAB has announced the appointment of David Serre and Emiliano Román as Managing Directors and Co-Heads of Business Development & Portfolio Management for its consumer investment platform, reinforcing the firm’s commitment to strengthening its core consumer holdings and driving long-term value creation across its global portfolio.
The appointments mark another significant step in JAB’s ongoing strategic transformation as the investment firm sharpens its focus on consumer-facing businesses. By bringing in two seasoned executives with extensive backgrounds in mergers and acquisitions, corporate strategy, portfolio management, and consumer sector investing, JAB aims to further enhance its ability to support portfolio companies through growth, innovation, and operational excellence.
The new leadership additions come during a period of active portfolio management and organizational renewal at JAB. Over the past year, the firm has undertaken a series of initiatives designed to strengthen governance, improve operational performance, and position its consumer businesses for sustainable long-term success. These efforts have included refreshing board compositions, updating leadership teams across several portfolio companies, and appointing José Cil as Senior Partner and Global Head of Consumer.
JAB’s leadership believes that the addition of Serre and Román will complement these initiatives by providing deeper transaction expertise and strategic insight as the company continues to focus on its most important consumer investments.
José Cil welcomed the appointments, emphasizing the value both executives bring to the organization.
“We are delighted to welcome David and Emiliano to JAB,” Cil said. “Their extensive experience across the global consumer landscape, combined with their collaborative approach and strategic vision, will further strengthen our investment capabilities and support our portfolio companies as they pursue their next phase of growth and value creation.”
David Serre Brings Extensive Global Consumer and Brand Expertise
Based in London, David Serre joins JAB after more than 25 years of experience working across investment banking, corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and consumer brand development.
Most recently, Serre served at LVMH, one of the world’s leading luxury goods companies, where he spent six years as a member of the Moët Hennessy Executive Committee. During his tenure, he oversaw a broad portfolio of responsibilities, including strategy development, mergers and acquisitions, innovation initiatives, strategic partnerships, and consumer insights activities for the company’s wine and spirits business.
His experience at LVMH provided him with firsthand exposure to some of the world’s most recognized premium consumer brands and offered deep insights into changing consumer preferences, market expansion opportunities, and global brand management.
Prior to joining LVMH, Serre held senior leadership positions at Nestlé in Switzerland, where he focused on mergers and acquisitions, venture investments, and portfolio strategy. In this role, he contributed to strategic decision-making across one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies, helping identify growth opportunities and optimize business portfolios.
Earlier in his career, Serre served as Head of Strategy at Carlsberg in Copenhagen, where he worked on strategic planning and corporate development initiatives for the international brewing company.
His professional journey also includes a lengthy career in investment banking. Over a span of approximately 15 years, Serre held senior positions at Paribas and Credit Suisse, advising global consumer companies on mergers and acquisitions, capital markets transactions, and strategic financial initiatives. As a Managing Director in London, he played a key role in executing complex international deals across multiple consumer sectors.
This diverse background gives Serre a unique combination of financial, strategic, and operational expertise that aligns closely with JAB’s long-term investment philosophy.
Emiliano Román Adds Deep Consumer Investment and Advisory Experience
Joining JAB in New York, Emiliano Román brings more than two decades of experience advising, investing in, and supporting consumer-oriented businesses worldwide.
Throughout his career, Román has been involved in transactions exceeding $100 billion in aggregate value, spanning mergers and acquisitions advisory, capital markets activities, private investing, and strategic corporate transactions.
Prior to joining JAB, Román served as Managing Director and Head of Consumer and Retail at Rockefeller Capital Management. In that role, he led strategic advisory services and private investment initiatives focused on consumer products, retail businesses, food companies, and agricultural enterprises.
His work involved helping companies navigate growth opportunities, execute acquisitions, optimize capital structures, and pursue long-term strategic objectives. The experience provided him with extensive exposure to both public and private market investments across multiple consumer-related industries.
Before Rockefeller Capital Management, Román spent nearly ten years at Morgan Stanley as a Managing Director, advising consumer and retail companies around the world on a broad range of strategic and financial matters. His work included supporting clients on major acquisitions, divestitures, financing transactions, and corporate growth initiatives.
Earlier in his career, he worked at UBS Investment Bank in New York within the Global Consumer Products & Retail and Mergers & Acquisitions groups, building a strong foundation in consumer-sector dealmaking and strategic advisory services.
In addition to his investment and advisory experience, Román currently serves as an Independent Director and Audit Committee Chair for Bagel Brands and Caribou Coffee. These board-level responsibilities provide him with valuable operational insights and governance experience that will further support JAB’s portfolio management efforts.
Supporting Long-Term Growth Across JAB’s Consumer Portfolio
JAB’s leadership views the appointments as an important step in strengthening the firm’s ability to allocate capital effectively and support the long-term growth of its consumer businesses.
According to JAB Managing Partners and Co-Chief Executive Officers Joachim Creus and Frank Engelen, Serre and Román embody the qualities that have helped define the firm’s investment approach over the years.
“David and Emiliano bring the discipline, conviction, and owner’s perspective that have always been central to JAB’s philosophy,” Creus and Engelen said. “Their experience, strategic judgment, and deep understanding of consumer markets will help us focus our resources and patient capital on the businesses that form the foundation of our consumer portfolio. Together, we will continue building resilient companies capable of delivering sustainable long-term value.”
As JAB continues refining its consumer investment strategy, the appointments underscore the firm’s commitment to combining experienced leadership, operational excellence, and disciplined capital allocation. With Serre and Román now leading business development and portfolio management efforts, JAB is positioning itself to accelerate growth, strengthen portfolio performance, and enhance value creation across its global consumer investments for years to come.
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