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We grow market leaders

A record of success

Our track record demonstrates our ability to identify, nurture, and build market leaders.

Our skilled team is committed to investing in long-term success, applying a time-tested, proven analysis to develop our portfolio of investments with a hands-on strategy designed to cultivate global leaders.

Long-term, sustainable values

Since 1895, the Jacobs family has always taken a long, over-the-horizon view, understanding that businesses need nurturing and investment to grow into globally recognized brands. This philosophy continues today within the team that carries that legacy to the next generation of business.

The future looks bright

Long before it was fashionable, our deep regard for the environment guided our actions and investments, the communities we worked in, and the governance of the built organizations. Today, more than ever, we are committed to ensuring that our investments yield positive impacts.

The future looks bright

Long before it was fashionable, our deep regard for the environment guided our actions and investments, the communities we worked in, and the governance of the built organizations. Today, more than ever, we are committed to ensuring that our investments yield positive impacts.

Our journey:
130 years and counting

  • Image of Johann Jacobs colonial goods shop

    1895

    Johan Jacobs opens a colonial goods shop in Bremen, Germany

  • Image of Jacobs Coffee Boxes

    1982

    Jacobs Kaffee merges with Interfood AG, creating Europe's top chocolate and coffee business

  • 1990

    Sale of Jacobs Suchard’s consumer activities to Philip Morris

  • Image of Adia logo

    1991

    Acquired the controlling stake in Swiss staffing market leader Adia

  • 1994

    Remaining industrial business integrated into Belgium Callebaut AG

  • Image of Barry Callebaut logo

    1996

    Callebaut and French Cacao Barry join forces, creating Barry Callebaut AG

  • Image of Adecco logo

    1997

    Adia and French Ecco merge to form Adecco, listing on SIX Swiss Exchange

  • 1998

    IPO listing of Barry Callebaut on SIX Swiss Exchange

  • Image of Infront sports and media logo

    2002

    Acquisition of Infront Sports & Media AG

  • 2011

    Infront sold to PE fund Bridgepoint

  • 2014

    Final sale of Adecco to public market

  • Image of Colosseum dental logo

    2017

    Start of journey to build leading Dental Service Organisation by forming Colosseum Dental Group

  • Image of Cognita logo

    2018

    Investment in global K-12 education market with acquisition of Cognita Schools

  • Image of North American dental group logo

    2019

    Acquisition of North American Dental Group

  • Image of North American dental group logo

    2024

    A Investment in Spanish vocational training market with acquisition of Ilerna

Our board

Our Board of Directors brings a symbiotic balance of global perspective, business acumen, and sustainable values to guide our future. 

Nicolas Jacobs

Co-Chairman

Managing Partner of an entrepreneurial investment company, elected in 2008

Philippe Jacobs

Co-Chairman

Executive Chairman at Telemos Capital, elected in 2008

Nathalie Albin-Jacobs

Marketing Director at F&B Company, elected in 2019

Alan Hippe

Chief Financial & Information Officer at F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, elected in 2019

Jos Lamers

Senior advisor, investor and board member in various private equity settings (a.o. CVC, APAX) and family holdings (a.o. A.P. Moller), elected in 2024.

Markus R. Neuhaus

Vice Chairman at Barry Callebaut and Orior, Member of the board at Baloise Holding and Galencia, elected in 2019

Pierre Laubies

Chairman of the Board of Lipton Teas and Infusions, Board member of Groupe Panzani and Versuni, elected in 2024

Simon Rowlands

Managing Partner, Africa Platform Capital LLP, elected in 2023

Jacobs Holding © 2024

Timothy Franks

CEO

Tim is the Chief Executive Officer of Jacobs Holding.

Prior to joining Jacobs Holding, Tim spent 7 years as a Partner in private equity at KKR, and latterly as Co-CEO of their democratized private equity business. Before that, he was a Managing Director at Advent International where he spent 18 years.  He started his career in investment banking at CSFB and Morgan Grenfell.

He holds an MA from the University of Cambridge and a Masters in Public Policy from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

Image of Rafael Zemp

Rafael Zemp

CFO

Rafael holds the ultimate responsibility for corporate finance, tax, transactional & corporate legal and HR.

Before joining Jacobs Holding, Rafael held senior positions in investment banking and as an attorney at law.

Rafael holds an MBA from INSEAD and a Master of Law from the University of Fribourg.

Image of Justin Lewis-Oakes

Justin Lewis-Oakes

Managing Director

Justin focuses on investments in the Food & Beverage and Education sectors, as well as covering the UK market.

Prior to joining Jacobs Holding, Justin spent 12 years at KKR in the European Private Equity team and 4 years at Goldman Sachs in the investment banking division. Justin holds an MA in Classics (Literae Humaniores) from Balliol College, Oxford.

Image of Anela Bouthors

Anela Bouthors

General Counsel

Anela oversees all legal and compliance matters for the firm.

Before joining Jacobs Holding, Anela was Global Head of Investment Legal with Partners Group and General Counsel at impact investment firm Blue Horizon. Anela started her career with Linklaters in London and CMS Cameron McKenna.

Anela holds a Master in Law from the University of Bucharest and BPP Law School in London and is admitted to the bar in both England & Wales and Romania.

Image of Anna Silvestri

Anna Silvestri

Investment Associate

Prior to joining Jacobs Holding, Anna worked as a consultant of McKinsey & Company.

Anna holds an MBA from Columbia Business School, an MSc in International Business from Fudan University, and an MSc and BSc in International Management from Bocconi University.

Image of Carlos Gabriel y Galan

Carlos Gabriel y Galán

Investment Director

Carlos covers investment opportunities in Spain. He also contributes to origination and execution of transactions in Food & Beverage and in Education.

Prior to joining Jacobs Holding, Carlos worked at Partners Group for 6 years. Carlos began his career in consulting and transitioned into finance upon completing an MBA at London Business School.

Carlos holds a Bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from Universidad Carlos III, and a Master’s in mechanical engineering from Arts et Métiers ParisTech and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.

Image of Clemens Bürger

Clemens Bürger

Investment Manager

Clemens covers investment opportunities in the Education sector. In addition, he focuses on investment opportunities in Germany.

Prior to joining Jacobs Holding, Clemens worked in Investment Banking at Deutsche Bank.

Clemens holds an MSc in Corporate Finance & Banking from Edhec Business School, an MSc in Investment Analysis from Aston University, as well as a BSc in Economics & Management from Leibniz University of Hanover.

Image of Emilie Caurant

Emilie Caurant

Investment Associate

Prior to joining Jacobs Holding, Emilie was an Investment Banking Associate at Bank of America.

Emilie holds an MSc in Corporate Finance and Financial Engineering, as well as a BSc in Management from Université Paris Dauphine.

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Karina Barnes


Head of People and Culture

Prior to joining Jacobs Holding, Karina held several senior HR roles across private equity, real estate and pharmaceuticals. Most recently, she ran her own executive coaching and training business.

Karina holds an MSc in Organizational Psychology from Birkbeck, University of London and a BA in French and Modern European Studies from the University of East Anglia.

Image of Jamilya Mühlemann

Jamilya 
Muehlemann

Head of Finance

Jamilya is responsible for Jacobs Holding management and financial reporting, tax and structuring topics.

Before joining Jacobs Holding, Jamilya spent significant time with COFRA Holding. She started her career as an auditor with EY in Hamburg/Zurich, where she spent 8 years.

Jamilya is a CFA and ACCA charterholder.

Image of Philipp Haller

Philipp Haller

Group Treasurer

Philipp is responsible for the Holding’s liquidity, insurance, and risk management.

Prior to joining Jacobs Holding, Philipp worked for a substantial period at UBS Investment Bank in the Securities Lending & Financing division and later headed Treasury Switzerland at Leonteq Securities AG.

Philipp is a CFA charterholder and holds a Diploma of Advanced Studies in Corporate Finance from HSLU.

Image of Sofia Helgesson

Sofia Helgesson

Investment Director

Sofia covers investment opportunities in the Healthcare sector, most notably within Pharma, Pharma Services and MedTech. In addition, she is responsible for origination initiatives in the Nordic region.

Prior to joining Jacobs Holding, Sofia spent six years at Advent International, and began her career at JPMorgan.

Sofia holds an MSc in Finance and Accounting and a BSc in Business and Economics from the Stockholm School of Economics (SSE), including studies at HEC Paris.

Image of Wolfgang Schreiner

Wolfgang Schreiner

Investment Manager

Wolfgang covers investment opportunities in the Healthcare sector, most notably within Healthcare Services and Health IT. In addition, he supports origination coverage across the DACH region.

Prior to joining Jacobs Holding, Wolfgang worked at Morgan Stanley.

Wolfgang holds a MPhil degree in Finance and Economics from University of Cambridge as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich.

Nicolas Jacobs

Co-Chairman, Managing Partner of an entrepreneurial investment company

Nicolas Jacobs is a Managing Partner of an entrepreneurial investment company. He has served as a Board member of Barry Callebaut since 2012 and was previously Managing Director for Barry Callebaut’s cocoa and chocolate operations in South America. He has also served as a Board member of Cognita since 2018.

Nicolas started his career in Banking and later served at Restaurants Brands International (RBI) as Senior Director for Global M&A and Development.

Nicolas holds a Master in Law from the University of Zurich, a Master of Finance from London Business School and a Master in Business Administration from INSEAD in Fontainebleau.

Philippe Jacobs

Co-Chairman, Investment Director at alternative investment management company elected 2008

Philippe Jacobs is currently the Founder and Executive Chairman of Telemos Capital. Telemos Capital is a family controlled mid-market Private Equity investment manager investing in companies in consumer goods and services, business services and healthcare services industries across Europe.

Previously, he worked as an Investment Director at Aalto Invest focusing on the firm’s public equity investments and in the Investment Banking Division of Royal Bank of Scotland and at UBS AG in London and Zurich.

Philippe holds a M.Sc. in Finance from Imperial College Business School and Bachelor of Arts HSG in Business Administration from the University of St. Gallen. In addition, he has completed a course at the FESCO International Training Center in Shanghai in Chinese language and culture.

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Jacobs Holding is pleased to announce it has agreed to acquire ILERNA

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