CATIA CESARI

OPERATING PARTNER

As Operating Partner of TAU Europe, based in Geneva, Catia is focused on deal origination, due diligence, and post-investment transformation improvements of TAU’s European investments. A fashion, beauty, and luxury industry professional, Catia contributes a unique combination of Direct Investment, Sustainability, and Change Management expertise spanning over 20 years, within GE, Gucci Group, JAB Holding, and Private Equity across US, Europe, Japan, and China. She strongly believes in sustainability, ESG transparency and responsibility as a catalyser and a cultural pillar to foster innovation.

Most recently Catia was Member of the Executive Committee and SVP Corporate Development at Coty, Inc., a $12B NYSE listed beauty-company with fragrance, cosmetics, and skincare products, whose major shareholder is JAB Holding.

Previously, as Chief M&A and Human Capital Officer of JAB Luxury (belonging to JAB Holding) Catia co-created, with the CEO and CFO, a new luxury group from inception which included brands such as Jimmy Choo, Belstaff, and Bally.

In the early 00s, Catia was on the M&A team of Gucci Group led at the time by Domenico De Sole, Bob Singer, and Tom Ford, acquiring several brands such as Boucheron, Bottega Veneta, Stella McCartney, Balenciaga, and Alexander McQueen.

She launched her private equity career as a Principal at First Reserve Corporation, the #1 US-based energy sector private equity firm.

Catia started off at KPMG before embarking on a decade at General Electric, where she was involved in structuring complex transactions and in integrating newly acquired businesses in the energy industry as part of Jack Welch’s Business Development team in the US.

With a Masters Degree in Economics and Management from the University of Florence, and post graduate degree in Corporate Finance from Kellogg Management School, Catia is also a certified CPA. She is FSA certified in the UK, a Six Sigma Master Black Belt, and recently earned a Non-Executive Director Diploma from the Financial Times School of Management.