08.04.21
Buff City Soap, a fast growing plant-based home and personal care brand franchise, has tapped Craig Kessler to serve as its next CEO. He joins the Dallas-based franchise operator from Topgolf, where he served as COO during a time when it more than tripled in size to nearly $1 billion in revenue and its venues rose from 25 to 70.
Buff City Soap’s products are handmade daily in each store's "Soap Makery." The company, which has quadrupled its footprint since 2020 to more than 115 stores in 21 states, says it has significant expansion planned for 2021 and beyond with a recent growth equity investment from private equity firm General Atlantic.
"We believe that Craig will be instrumental in helping accelerate the Company's unit expansion across the U.S.," said Mike Sutton, Managing Partner at Guideboat Capital Partners and Co-Chairman of Buff City Soap. "We are seeing incredible demand for our handmade and plant-based products and Craig's experience building a global brand was essential as we embark on the next phase of growth."
Before joining Topgolf, Kessler was an operating partner at both Providence Equity Partners and KKR. He started his career in management consulting with McKinsey & Company. Kessler received his undergraduate degree from the Georgetown University and his MBA from Harvard Business School.
Buff City Soap’s products are handmade daily in each store's "Soap Makery." The company, which has quadrupled its footprint since 2020 to more than 115 stores in 21 states, says it has significant expansion planned for 2021 and beyond with a recent growth equity investment from private equity firm General Atlantic.
"We believe that Craig will be instrumental in helping accelerate the Company's unit expansion across the U.S.," said Mike Sutton, Managing Partner at Guideboat Capital Partners and Co-Chairman of Buff City Soap. "We are seeing incredible demand for our handmade and plant-based products and Craig's experience building a global brand was essential as we embark on the next phase of growth."
Before joining Topgolf, Kessler was an operating partner at both Providence Equity Partners and KKR. He started his career in management consulting with McKinsey & Company. Kessler received his undergraduate degree from the Georgetown University and his MBA from Harvard Business School.