Andrew Balson
Managing Partner
Background
Background
Prior to founding Cove Hill, Andrew worked for seventeen years at Bain Capital. For the last thirteen years of his tenure at Bain, he served as a Managing Director. While at Bain, Andrew co-led the global private equity investment committee process (2011-2013), was a member of Bain Capital’s Policy Board (2013) and was also part of the Global Private Equity Board (2012-2013). From 2010-2013, Andrew also co-led the group focused on investments in technology, media and telecom and certain consumer sectors including restaurants.
Andrew participated in 11 investments and held 14 board seats during his tenure as Managing Director at Bain Capital. The transactions that Andrew completed with his colleagues at Bain Capital were primarily in the technology, business services and consumer markets.
Since his retirement from Bain Capital and prior to founding Cove Hill Partners, Andrew was the founding Chief Executive Officer at Duet (formerly Match Beyond). Duet is an innovative college completion program that helps low-income young adults attain college degrees and prepare for the workforce. To achieve this mission, Duet provides personal coaching, study support, and job placement services to high school graduates in Boston who simultaneously enroll in low-cost Associate’s and Bachelor’s degree programs at College for America, an original online arm of Southern New Hampshire University.
Andrew has served on the board of Domino’s Pizza since 1999 and serves on the boards of several Cove Hill portfolio companies.
He lives in Newton, MA with his college sweetheart, Melora. His six children are scattered through the northeast.
Get to Know Andrew
Get to Know Andrew
What is your go-to candy order at the movie theater?
Dots – remind me of my mom. She loved Dots.
What inspired you to pursue a career in private equity?
No one else would hire me.
What is your favorite Cove and Hill to travel to?
I like the original Inn at Cove Hill, where Melora and I got engaged.
Education
Andrew graduated from Princeton University with an A.B. from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs in 1988 and from Harvard Business School with an M.B.A. with distinction in 1994.
Cove Hill Involvement
Prior Investments at Bain Capital
Advertising Directory Solutions
Applied Systems
Bellsystems24
Bloomin’ Brands (incl. Outback Steakhouse)
Bright Horizons
Burger King
Domino’s Pizza Japan
Dunkin Brands
FleetCor
Skylark
UGS PLM
Additional Board Involvement
Domino’s Pizza (current, since 1999)
Odwalla
US Internetworking