Bio

Bret Wiener is the Founder and Managing Partner of Gemspring Capital and the Chairman of Gemspring’s Investment Committee. Bret’s experience spans a broad range of industries including business services, industrial services, distribution and logistics, aerospace, healthcare, insurance, specialty finance, media, technology, and software. Bret has invested across a range of company sizes and in a variety of transaction types including founder recaps, leveraged buyouts, take privates, corporate divestitures, restructurings, growth equity investments, and structured minority investments. Bret has been involved in over 80 acquisitions over the course of his career. The pace of change in the business environment is accelerating and Bret believes that a deep understanding of new technologies and disruptive business models is critical to selecting investments and leading traditional businesses through these challenges and opportunities. Prior to founding Gemspring, Bret spent 11 years with H.I.G. Capital where he was the youngest Managing Director in H.I.G.’s history. Prior to joining H.I.G., Bret was with the Corporate Strategy Group at Microsoft where he focused on a range of strategic and operational initiatives. Before business school, Bret was in the investment banking division of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette. During his time at NYU, he spent three years as a Research Associate at the predecessor of OrbiMed, a leading healthcare investment firm. Bret’s deep experience also includes earlier career stints as an institutional cook, a NYC messenger, and a telemarketing rep. Bret serves on the Global Advisory Council of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Leadership Council of Grace Farms. Bret received a BS, summa cum laude, from New York University and an MBA from Stanford University.