Jeffrey Johnson
On LinkedIn
Managing Director
Jeffrey Johnson is a Managing Director at Blackford Capital. He joined the firm in 2015 with over 30 years of experience in investment banking and private equity investing. Jeff is involved in all facets of the firm’s operations, including transaction sourcing, investment analysis, portfolio construction and management, deal financing, internal operations, and fundraising.
History & Education
Prior to joining Blackford Capital, he was a Managing Director and founding principal at Gilbert Global Equity Partners, L.P. (formerly Soros Capital, L.P.), a multi-billion-dollar middle-market private equity firm headquartered in New York City. Jeff led growth equity and management buyout investments in the specialty manufacturing, consumer products and business services sectors as well as served on the boards as a Director or observer of six portfolio companies during his 16 years with the firm. Throughout Jeff’s tenure, he worked closely with multiple global manufacturing and distribution companies to accelerate growth and transform their performance with superior customer-driven strategies, operations, organizations and technology.
Prior to Gilbert, Jeff worked as a Director in the alternative investments practice at Russell Investments, a global asset management firm with over $265 billion in assets under management, and in a corporate development role at Kansas City-based Hallmark Cards, Inc. where he co-led the company’s acquisition and divestiture activities primarily in the consumer products and telecommunications industries. Jeff also worked as an investment banker in the mergers and acquisitions department at Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Jeff received his bachelor’s degree in economics from Claremont McKenna College and a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard Business School.
Professional & Personal Activities
Jeff serves as the Chairman of the Board on current portfolio companies Habco, ACG, and Outova and was Chairman for realized investments Mopec, Quality Aluminum Products and Ellison Bakery. He was captain of the Claremont men’s varsity golf team and was a participant in the NCAA Division III Golf Championships. Jeff is originally from the Pacific Northwest and is an avid outdoorsman and skier.
Outside of Work
Jeff enjoys spending time with his family and is passionate about all things outdoors, including golfing, snow and water skiing, and saltwater fishing.